Recent studies have proven what pearl culturing enthusiasts have known for years - pearl culturing is good for the environment. Pearl oysters clean the water, remove nitrogen and accelerate the process of de-nitrification. They enhance water clarity, promote sea grass survival and provide excellent habitat for myriads of juvenile fish and crustaceans.
Pearl oysters belong to a group of organisms known to biologists as filter feeders or suspension feeders. They take in water, filter out their nourishment, and expel what they don’t need. Oyster waste becomes another aquatic animals’ food.
Pearl oysters lower bacterial counts and algal blooms. They filter silt from the water, lowering turbidity and allowing better light penetration. This helps oxygenate deeper water and improves eelgrass survival.
Pearl culturing involves no fertilizers, feeds, herbicides, drugs, chemicals, or antibiotics. Pearl oysters directly and indirectly remove nitrogen and other nutrients from water. These highly efficient water purifiers remove organic matter, nutrients, silt, bacteria and viruses, and improve clarity and light transmission. This in turn improves the condition of critical habitat, including survival of species such as sea grasses and other submerged vegetation.
The structures used in pearl culturing (racks, cages, nets, ropes, trays and lines) act like reefs and provide habitat and protection for a myriad of other organisms, frequently serving as nursery grounds for fish and other shellfish, such as juvenile lobsters. They provide protection from predators for juvenile fish and crustaceans, increased surface area for fouling, and an increased food supply for other organisms.
Pearl culturing improves species abundance and diversity. Pearl oyster shells and provide habitat for juvenile fish, crabs and other organisms. It comes as no surprise that pearl culturing has received a thumbs-up from environmental groups such as Environmental Defense, Audubon Society, Eco-fish, and various others.
Good quality pearls can grow only inside healthy oysters. In order to be healthy, the oysters must be grown in clean waters. Pollution in the water can weaken oysters and kill them, inhibit the secretion of a good coating of nacre (mother of pearl), as well as introduce pollutants into a pearl that inhibit the appearance of orient. Moreover, providing the pearl generating organisms with a good living environment enables the pearls to be formed in shorter terms. Therefore, pearl farmers make every effort to maintain good environmental conditions around the area. Armed with the knowledge of how pollution can destroy growing areas, pearl farmers become first in the line of defense in enacting laws and protecting and restoring water quality to keep their industry alive.
