Fiji imports pearls valued at $50 million annually from Tahiti, Australia, and Indonesia, primarily to satisfy the demands of its tourism sector. This figure also includes freshwater pearls sourced from China. Claude Michel Prevost, the founder and director of Civa Pearl Fiji, has emphasized the pressing need to increase local pearl production, indicating that more oyster pearl farmers are crucial for Fiji’s aquaculture.
Recently, Civa Pearl Fiji has partnered with the retail chain Jack’s of Fiji to broaden its distribution network. This collaboration aims to boost pearling efforts to meet rising market demands, with Mr. Prevost setting an ambitious goal to ramp up production from 10,000 to 25,000 pearls over the next five years.
The significance of the pearl industry is highlighted by comparisons to Tahiti, which sells pearls worth over $250 million to tourists—about a third of the tourist traffic that Fiji receives. Mr. Prevost points out that with the right policies and local investment, there exist substantial opportunities for pearl farming in Fiji, especially given the unique colors and quality of Fijian pearls.
However, he notes that to fully realize this potential, stakeholders must address existing legal barriers that hinder access to water resources necessary for aquaculture. In a 2019 proposal to the government, he stated that Fiji is missing out on remarkable opportunities in the aquaculture and pearl industry due to a lack of development and exploitation strategies.
Civa Pearl Fiji currently employs 10 workers but plans to expand its team to 25 over the next four years. Additionally, the company is working with local communities to engage them in pearl farming, fostering economic growth and involvement in the industry.
This strategic shift offers a positive outlook for the local economy, emphasizing sustainability and community involvement. By cultivating the pearl industry domestically, Fiji may not only reduce its reliance on imports but also enhance its tourism appeal, thereby creating further economic opportunities in the region.
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