COOK ISLANDS - SOUTH PACIFIC
Cook Islands Black Pearl – An Economic Boom

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When visiting the Cook Islands black pearl shopping has become a mainstay for tourists. Two of the northern atolls, Penrhyn and Manihiki, cultivate the oysters that produce these magnificent examples of man and nature working in harmony. There is a small amount of farming done at Rakahanga as well. The atolls’ lagoons provide the perfect place to seed the oysters and allow the pearl to grow for the years necessary to produce a quality pearl. The inhabitants of the islands often work in some capacity with the pearl industry to make a living. Some farm individual plots of oysters while others help harvest them and get them ready for market. A small number make products made with the pearls.

For the Cook Islands, black pearl cultivation is an economic lifesaver. The cultivation of black pearls came to the Cook Islands in the 1980’s. Developers placed the first farms into the lagoon at Manihiki. Within a few years, they introduced farms into Penrhyn. At present, there are millions of oysters present in both places. The annual output amounts to over 10 million dollars each year. Over 700 people find employment because of this industry. The industry had some setbacks. An algae bloom took out 15% of the oysters at Manihiki in 2001. However, the amount of oysters produced continues to grow at a steady rate.

For visitors to the Cook Islands black pearl selection involves interacting with those that farm them. Most visitors choose to look at what is available at local shops. The same families that grow the pearls own most of these shops. This means that you are buying directly from the supplier. This helps keep the money closer to home for the natives. Many of the people running these shops have knowledge to help their customers select the best quality of black pearls. They can provide certificates of authenticity as well to give the customer peace of mind with their purchase.

On the Cook Islands, black pearl production provides economic stimulus to many areas of the island economy. As money comes in through consistent employment and exporting, the islands have upgraded their infrastructure bringing in more amenities that are modern for their residents. It has opened up more of the world to the natives as transportation to and from the islands has improved. The main purchasers of the pearls come from Asia, but there is a growing interest in North America also.