Pearl oyster industry

Pearling industry in the Northern Territory (NT) began in 1884, with the harvest of pearl beds in Darwin harbor.

Pearl oysters were collected for their shell and rare pearls. Pearl beds were then found around the Tiwi Islands, and the peak recorded catch was in 1936.

The industry declined during World War II when plastic buttons decreased the market for mother of pearl.

Today, pearl culture in the NT has consolidated, with 2 producers, each with a pearl oyster hatchery.

Get the history of pearl industry in the NT information sheet.

History of pearl industry in the NT PDF (125.2 KB)
History of pearl industry in the NT DOCX (62.9 KB)

Products

Pearl oysters are valued for their pearls, shell and meat.

A pearl is formed when a skilled technician places a bead of shell in a pocket of oyster mantle. If the mantle heals well, it secretes nacre around the nucleus and forms a pearl.

Not all pearls are round, and an oyster may be re-seeded up to 3 or rarely 4 times.

Keshi pearls are produced when the nucleus is rejected but the oyster still produces a pearl. They have unique shapes and are used in innovative and unique jewellery.

Pearl meat is a gourmet product sold for over $100 per kilogram, sourced from wild harvested shell or farmed pearl oysters.

Pearl shell is used for jewellery, buttons, inlays, cosmetics, and paints.

To find out more, read the products of the pearl industry information sheet.

Products of the pearl industry PDF (102.8 KB)
Products of the pearl industry DOCX (62.4 KB)

Farming

Pearl farming is done in remote areas with warm, clean water. No chemicals are used, and pearl oysters are farmed in low densities to:

• ensure access to food
• minimise the risk of disease transmission.

Pearls are suspended in cages and regularly cleaned to remove fouling organisms.

Juvenile pearl oysters produced in a hatchery are grown up in panels in the sea to a size suitable for seeding. After seeding, it may take 2 years to produce a marketable pearl. Shells may be re-seeded another 2 or rarely 3 times. Alternatively, shell collected under permit from Western Australia may be shipped to the NT for seeding and growing.

Movement of shell is managed by the NT Government through permits and heath checking where necessary. When leases expire, all equipment is removed from the site. Pearls in the NT are farmed over mud bottom areas, and do not involve sustained disturbance with the bottom.

To find out more, read the pearl farming in the NT information sheet.

Pearl farming in the NT PDF (117.9 KB)
Pearl farming in the NT DOCX (62.7 KB)

Management

Fisheries manages the compliance of the pearl industry with license and quota management, as well as the health and translocation of pearl oyster stocks. The industry is governed by the Fisheries Act 1988 and regulations. This covers areas including translocation permits.

The pearling industry is mainly managed through the:

• Pearl Oyster Culture Industry Management Plan 1998
• NT pearl oyster industry compliance plan PDF (417.4 KB).

Further regulation is provided through licensing for aquaculture and movement of stock.

Fisheries also oversees aquaculture to ensure minimal impact on the environment and compliance with license conditions. To ensure compliance with the environmental management plan and quota limits, annual audits are conducted.

To find out more, read the pearl industry management in the NT information sheet.

Pearl industry management in the NT PDF (144.5 KB)
Pearl industry management in the NT DOCX (62.9 KB)

Environmental and social impacts

Pearl harvesting is sustainable with minimal environmental impact. The quota system ensures that only a fraction of the potential catch is harvested.

To minimise risks, divers follow strict safety standards including highly selective hand harvesting to avoid any damage to the environment.

Hatcheries are run carefully to ensure best health and survival of larvae, with minimal biosecurity or pollution risks. Studies show no measurable changes in the fauna beneath pearl farms. The presence of pearl farms does not block public passage across leased areas. No marine megafauna (whale, turtle. dugong) interactions have been reported in NT pearl operations.

As pearl farms are in inshore areas, ongoing communication with the indigenous custodians of that country is maintained. Pearl operations provide significant employment opportunities and benefit local communities.

To find out more, read the environmental and social impacts of the pearl industry information sheet.

Environmental and social impacts of the pearl industry PDF (149.0 KB)
Environmental and social impacts of the pearl industry DOCX (65.4 KB)