Potential for development of pearl culture

Subsequent to the development of technology for pearl culture by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute at Tuticorin in 1972 (Alagarswami, 1974), the Department of Fisheries of Lakshadweep evinced interest in exploring the possibility of establishing pearl culture in the islands. Pearl oysters were located in the islands, collected and reared from time to time. The programme took a more definite shape after some of the Officers of the Department of Fisheries were trained in pearl culture at the CMFR Institute at Tuticorin in 1979 and again in 1983 and 1986. Experimental pearl culture was initiated in Agatti and Bangaram and some cultured pearls have been produced. By way of fostering their effort further, the Institute supplied 10,C00 spat of Pinctada fucata raised in the pearl oyster hatchery ar Tuticorin for transplantation in Lakshadweep. During the indicative survey of the fisheries potential of Lakshadweep carried out by the CMFR Institute during January-March, 1987, first-hand information was collected on the occurrence of pearl oyster in the islands and the status of experimental pearl culture being carried out in Agatti and Bangaram. The information is presented in this paper and potential for pearl culture in Lakshaweep is discussed