The black lip pearl oyster resource and pearl culture potential

Abstract

The survey of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had, as one of its objectives, an investigation on the potential of the region for pearl culture. The Indo- Australian Archipelago is an important region in the world distribution of pearl oysters. The Mergui Archipelago, which is on the eastern bounds of the Andaman Sea is the area of Burmese pearl culture with the most valued species Pinctada maxima (Jameson). Although pearl oysters have been recorded from the Andamans (Prashad and Bhaduri, 1933 ; Rao, 1970) there is no information on their distribution and abun dance as an exploitable resource. On the mainland of India the major pearl oyster resource is Pinctada fucata (Gould) and technology for pearl culture in this species has been developed earlier (Alagarswami^ 1974 ; Alagarswami and Qasim, 1973). Ideal sites for pearl culture, as found in Japan (Alagarswami, 1970) or Australia (Hancock, 1973), are rare along the main land coast. The marine ecosystem of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with numerous bays has been considered potential grounds for pearl culture. The survey carried out during January-April 1978 provided some information on the pearl oyster resources and their ecological conditions and helped in a preliminary appraisal of the islands' pearl culture potential.