27/01/2022 14:47 -

Pearl business and the biodiversity of our waters

At the end of the 19th century, the search for pearls was a direct attack on the survival of the oyster. Polluting methods of harvesting and continual overfishing caused oysters to become almost extinct. Tons of oysters were hauled up, opened or broken and dumped back in the search for some pearls. A real shame when you see the prices at which oysters are sold.

However, when Kochiki Mikimoto came up with a method for cultivating pearls, we saw the emergence of farms and their "cultivated pearls". 
These farms, if not overproduced, can have a positive impact on biodiversity in their waters. The fact is that oysters need pure water in order to grow optimally, so the pearl farmers will do everything they can to prevent pollution of the environment. However, the oysters themselves also actively contribute to this process as they are great water filters, able to purify up to 5 litres of water per hour. Small organisms also settle on the shells, which attracts fish and increases biodiversity. Finally, the shells absorb carbon dioxide, nitrogen and phosphorous from their surroundings, acting as a kind of mini forest underwater.

The oyster is a gift that keeps on giving to us...

 

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