A. Species
Scientific name: Pinctada margaritifera
Common name(s): Black lip oyster, Pearl oyster
Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:
B. Location of use
Geographic location(s):
- Pacific - southwest
Country/Region: French Polynesia [Tahiti not listed on IUCN database]
C. Scale of assessment
Scale of assessment: Sub-national / Sub-region / Sub-State
Name/Details of location: Tahiti
D. Timescale of use
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2013
E. Information about the use
How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site
Type of use: Extractive
Practice of use: Ranching, farming or cultivation or wild species
Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of: Only parts or products of the organism
Purpose(s) of end use: Decorative and aesthetic
Motivation of use: Basic subsistence, Income generation from trade (individual/household/community), Largescale commercial exploitation for trade, Traditional/Cultural/Spiritual and Climate Change Nature Based Solution / Adaptation Measure
Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law
F. Information about the Users
Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people, National / local government, National / local private sector, International private sector, National external and International external
G. Information about the sustainability of use
Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: Authors' opinion of current situation for big commercial farms, which are becoming more numerous. Nevertheless, if recommendations are followed and/ or small local producers become industry leaders once more, then it will be sustainable. NB, prevalence of each business model varies between islands/ atolls
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Authors state: Big businesses with highly mobile capital may invest in or leave an atoll according to conditions of productivity related amongst other things to environmental conditions. Small local producers however, with low mobility and a strong attachment to the atoll, express more often the need to preserve their ecosystem for themselves as well as for their children. In this instance, maintaining the ecosystem is the prerequisite for maintaining their business and the survival of their family.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Made sustainable by oyster farming. Source of local revenue.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Oyster farming practices are sustainable. Source of local livelihoods.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Not recorded
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Not recorded
Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species
Authors recommend that the introduction of sustainability objectives for the Tahitian pearl farming industry proceed from a co-constructed approach based upon development principles that professionals and stakeholders consider as priorities. It is crucial especially for small farms to implement measures that lead to the organization of markets and the reorganization of governance, whether that be of authorities, regulatory instruments or monitoring protocols for the vulnerability of units. They point out, however, that communication and the setting-up of networking between producers to strengthen their implication in management will be heavily impeded by the geographic dispersal of the units. The efficiency therefore of governance mechanisms in issues of communication and exchange will largely determine the implementation of these new management strategies.
Record source
Information about the record source: scientific_pub
Date of publication/issue/production: 2016-01-01T00:00:00+0000
Source Reference(s):
Date of record entry: 2022-12-14