Stimulating investment in pearl farming in ... - World Fish Center

continuing to enter the market. This undermines attempts by both government and largescaleproducers to maintain the rarity value and exclusive image of their product.The second most important producer in the Pacific Islands region is Cook Islands, wherethe industry was catalysed largely by developers from neighbouring French Polynesiawho brought technical skills and investment funds to the country. The Cook Islandsindustry produced about US$18 million worth of pearls at its peak in 2000, but hasdeclined since that time, with production of only about US$2 million in 2005. A majordisease outbreak at the end of 2000, attributed mainly to overstocking and poor farmingpractices, decimated the industry, and it has still not fully recovered. Cook Islands hassuffered more development problems than French Polynesia, including, in addition todisease, conflicts among farmers and persistent marketing of low-grade pearls, which hasundermined prices in general and given Cook Islands a widespread reputation as aproducer of a low-grade product. These examples highlight the importance of settingstrict controls at the outset of any new pearl venture.5.1 PolicyThe current government’s stated policy goal for the fisheries sector is ‘the developmentand sustainable utilisation of sea and marine resources to benefit and contribute to thewell being of Solomon Islanders’. The policy is accompanied by eight expected outcomesand a series of associated strategies, most of which relate to managing and increasingeconomic benefits from capture fisheries, especially tunas. None of the outcomes orstrategies make any reference to aquaculture.MFMR’s Aquaculture Development Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) contains anumber of statements of policy in regard to aquaculture in general and pearl farming inparticular. The Plan recognises that the Ministry lacks knowledge and experience ofaquaculture, and that institutional strengthening and human resource development arerequired. It also acknowledges the absence of appropriate policies and regulations foraquaculture, and urges the development of these. Noting that the WorldFish Centeroperates the only aquaculture hatchery in Solomon Islands, the Plan recommends againstthe development of further hatcheries by government, although it encourages governmentsupport to the private sector in regard to hatchery development. Section 9 of the Planstates that MFMR will provide information to prospective aquaculture investors in regardto land and sea tenure, licensing, infrastructure and transportation, among other things. Inregard to pearl farming, proposed actions by MFMR are: Collaborate with WorldFish and EU to attract private investors in SolomonIslands; Maintain the ban on the wild shell trade; Implement the policies and licensing conditions developed by the EU-fundedproject; Provide extension services for the participation of local communities throughProvincial Fisheries Officer, after the establishment of private farms; Promote value added pearl oyster products particularly for rural communities inopportunities such as shell carvings or pearl mabe handicrafts.22