TONGA’S PILOT PEARL FARMING PROJECT BEGINS

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (April 26, 1998 - PACNEWS/Tohi)---A Japanese pearl farming company has begun a pilot project in Tonga to determine the viability of producing black-lip oyster pearls in the Polynesian kingdom.

Secretary for Fisheries, 'Akau'ola, says the government is optimistic about the project undertaken by Japan’s Tahiti Shinju Company.

A successful result, ‘Akau’ola says, could lead to the establishment of Tongan pearl farming activities on the capital island of Tongatapu and in the Vava'u and Ha'apai island groups, Radio Tonga reports.

Meanwhile, Tonga's Ministry of Fisheries has embarked on another trial pearl project in Vava’u, using winged oysters, which already has shown some positive results.

A recent joint review of Tonga’s fisheries sector by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and Australia’s AusAID suggests that pearl farming is the country’s most promising aquaculture development opportunity.