The Basic Methods of Pearl Farming: A Layman's Manual - CTSA

Basic Methods of Pearl FarmingBe sure the water currents are not too strong near the main line.Try to put the lines in fairly calm water or spat may fall off the line.Try other locations in the lagoon.Spat settlement will be uneven throughout a lagoon. The best areas are those where the water is calmor where eddies form, because spat will spend more time in these areas. Also try locations on thedowncurrent side of small patch reefs, since eddies may occur here.Try putting collectors out each month to determine which time is best.The best times of year to collect spat are still unknown in many regions. Periodic deployments throughoutthe year may be necessary to detect the best times.Collectors lose their effectiveness if fouled with other organisms.If collectors are set out more than 2-3 months before the peak spawning season, other organisms willcolonize the collectors first and possibly prevent pearl oyster spat from settling. If the collectors arebecoming colonized with other animals, the collectors should be removed from the water, cleaned anddeployed again.Try different types of materials for making the collectors.If a first attempt using materials other than shade cloth or other plastic materials specifically made forspat collection has failed, you may have to switch materials. Materials such as shells, coconut husks ormikimiki may not work if they have sunk too deep.Page 46