A review of the Shark Bay pearling industry.

While there are currently only two pearl culture leases in Shark Bay, two new applications for leases have already been received by the W.A. Fisheries Department. Increased interest is being generated about pearl culture in Shark Bay, which will need to be considered against the background of management plans designed to restrict further entry into other areas, notably the pearly industry of W.A from Exmouth Gulf northwards, and the pearling industry of the Northern Territory. Recent successes with pearl culture in both those areas, and the greatly increased revenues and high lease transfer values realised, must inevitably focus interest on areas of underexploited pearl oysters such as Shark Bay, which appears to have considerable potential for development