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

Suitability of Habitats for Growth of Black-Lip and Silver-Lip Pearl Oysters Final, June 2008The Ecology Lab Pty Ltd – Marine and Freshwater StudiesTABLE OF CONTENTSSummary ................................................................................................................................................iGlossary.................................................................................................................................................11.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................22.0 Environmental Needs of Pearl Oysters.................................................................................32.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................32.2 Geographic Distribution ..........................................................................................................32.3 Temperature...............................................................................................................................32.4 Salinity ........................................................................................................................................42.5 Habitat ........................................................................................................................................42.6 Type of Substratum...................................................................................................................52.7 Currents......................................................................................................................................52.8 Food Availability.......................................................................................................................52.9 Conclusions................................................................................................................................63.0 Environmental Conditions at Existing Pearl Farms..................................................................73.1 Black Pearl Farms.......................................................................................................................73.1.1 Australia ..............................................................................................................................73.1.2 Cook Islands .......................................................................................................................73.1.3 Fiji.........................................................................................................................................73.1.4 French Polynesia ................................................................................................................83.1.5 Solomon Islands .................................................................................................................93.1.6 Vanuatu ...............................................................................................................................93.1.7 Conclusions.........................................................................................................................93.2 Silver-White South Sea Pearl Farms ......................................................................................103.2.1 Australia ............................................................................................................................103.2.2 Papua New Guinea..........................................................................................................103.2.3 Cook Islands .....................................................................................................................113.2.4 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................114.0 Overview of Coral Reef and Lagoon Habitats in Key Pacific Regions.................................124.1 Australia ...................................................................................................................................124.2 Cook Islands ............................................................................................................................134.3 Fiji..............................................................................................................................................134.4 French Polynesia .....................................................................................................................144.5 Papua New Guinea.................................................................................................................154.6 Solomon Islands ......................................................................................................................17