Vizhinjam waters add to sparkle

Coastal communities to be equipped for production of designer pearls

raft with cages containing oysters installed off the Vizhinjam coast as part of a demonstration project on sea farming of designer pearls.

The waters off the Vizhinjam coast may soon yield something more precious than fish. The Fisheries Department has joined hands with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) for a demonstration project to disseminate the technology for sea farming to produce designer pearls.

The technology developed by the CMFRI includes pearl oyster seed production, oyster farming, and implantation and harvesting of designer pearls.

Sea farming can be easily adopted by self-help groups (SHGs) among the coastal communities, says M.K. Anil, Principal Scientist, CMFRI.

To produce a designer pearl, a skilled grafter implants a mould of the required image in the shell of an oyster.

Over time, the animal coats the implanted image with several layers of a lustrous material to produce the designer pearl. Image pearls are used in pendants, studs and rings.

For sea farming, the oysters are stocked in cages mounted on rafts. It takes about 50 to 55 days to produce a designer pearl with a proper coating. Dr. Anil said the pilot project at the CMFRI had come up with designer pearls in peacock blue, green, steel grey and golden hues.

The pearls produced from open sea farm showed better coating, colour and sheen.

The price of designer pearls varies from Rs.500 to Rs.5,000 depending on the size, colour and finish. The global trade of cultured pearl is estimated to be $3 billion a year. The major producers of marine pearl are Australia, Tahiti, Indonesia, Japan and China. India imports pearls valued at $4 million every year to meet the growing domestic demand.

The CMFRI is gearing up to train the SHGs in implanting the moulds in the oysters. While the protected harbour at Thangassery in Kollam has been identified as the main centre for sea farming, Vizhinjam will be a satellite location.

Dr. Anil said commercial production of designer pearls was expected to commence in two years. As many as 15 officers from the Fisheries Department are currently attending a training programme organised by the CMFRI in sea farming for production of designer pearls.