PEARL CULTURE—ITS POTENTIAL AND IMPLICATIONS IN INDIA

Abstract

Pearl fisheries of India are of ancient origin. The pearl oyster resources are located
mainlyin the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Mannar. They are subjected to wide fluctuations
from year to year, particularly when they are exploited for natural pearls. In 1972,
Vei^alodai, near Tuticorin, was selected as a site for conducting experiments on pearl
oyster farming and on the development of cultured pearls. Modem method of raft culture
was adopted for raising mother oysters. This method proved successful despite the trying
sea conditions prevailing during the monsoon months. The survival rate of the
pearl oysters in the farm was about 78 % during the first year. The oysters grew fast in the
farm in certain seasons and remained healthy throughout the experiments. Fouling by
different organisms was a serious problem and, if not checked properly, led to mortality
of oysters. Settlement of the spats of pearl oyster occurred at the farm from May to July.
At Veppalodai, the techniques of producing cultured pearls from the Indian pearl
oyster, Pittctada fucata, were developed and for the first time free, spherical cultured
pearls were produced. The potential and implications of pearl culture in India have
bsen discussed in relation to the situations prevailing in the pearl culture industry of
other parts of the world.