La douane prot?ge la perle de Tahiti

[Cyril Roger Brossard]

as seen here.

"Une nouvelle saisie de 108 kg de nuclei prohib?s, destin?s ? greffer les hu?tres perli?res a
?t? effectu?e par le bureau de douane du port de Papeete.

Il s’agit de la cinqui?me saisie de ce type r?alis?e au cours des six derniers mois, qui porte ? 543 kg le poids total de nuclei prohib?s intercept?s ? l’importation. Le contr?le de qualit? des nuclei import?s est essentiel pour la prosp?rit? et l’avenir du secteur perlicole en Polyn?sie fran?aise.

Les nuclei en b?nitier produisent des perles qui perdent toute valeur marchande car elles ne peuvent ?tre travaill?es (Voir photo ci dessous).



C’est pourquoi l’utilisation de nuclei en b?nitier est strictement interdite par l’arr?t? 1240/CM du 30/08/07 relatif ? la qualit? des nuclei import?s, commercialis?s et autoris?s ? la greffe.

Les cinq saisies r?centes portent sur quelque 435 000 nuclei prohib?s qui auraient permis la production d’autant de perles, toutes impropres ? la commercialisation. Leur mise sur le
march? international aurait ruin? la r?putation de la perle de Tahiti.

Compte tenu de l’enjeu ?conomique consid?rable et ? la demande du ministre des ressources marines, la douane a renforc? ses contr?les sur les produits de la perliculture – nuclei import?s, perles circulant ? l’int?rieur de la Polyn?sie et exportation de perles – afin de prot?ger le label “Perle de Tahiti”.

Une coop?ration active et fructueuse a ?t? mise en place entre la douane et la direction des ressources marines. Les services douaniers de contr?le disposent aujourd’hui d’un appareil sophistiqu?, de haute technologie, qui permet de contr?ler la mati?re constitutive des nuclei import?s. Aujourd’hui, les importations de nuclei, r?alis?es principalement par la voie a?rienne notamment en fret express, peuvent ?tre soumises ? un contr?le approfondi.

Contr?ler les marchandises import?es ou export?es est le coeur de la mission de la douane. Faire respecter les prohibitions qui frappent certains produits constitue une priorit? absolue. Ces importantes et r?currentes saisies de produits prohib?s illustrent la mission de protection exerc?e par la douane.



Au cas particulier, elle l’a rempli dans deux domaines :
- ?conomique, en faisant obstacle ? une pratique pr?judiciable ? la fili?re perlicole, qui demeure l’un des piliers de la production et de l’exportation de la Polyn?sie fran?aise ;
- environnemental, en saisissant les produits d’une esp?ce menac?e d’extinction ? l’?chelle mondiale par un commerce international non r?gul?. Les b?nitiers sont en effet, prot?g?s par la Convention de Washington."

Google translate:

A new seizure of 108 kg of nuclei prohibited for grafted pearl oysters has been carried out by the customs office of the port of Papeete.

This is the fifth entry of its kind in the past six months, bringing the total weight of 543 kg of intercepted nuclei (prohibited import). The quality control of imported nuclei is essential for the prosperity and future of the pearl industry in French Polynesia.

The tridacna nuclei produce pearls losing any value because they can not be worked (see photo below).



This is why the use of tridacna nuclei is strictly forbidden by the decree of 30/08/07 1240/CM on the quality of the nuclei imported, marketed and licensed to transplantation.

The five recent seizures involve some 435,000 nuclei that would have produced as many pearls, all unmarketable. Placing on the international market would have ruined the reputation of the pearl.

Given the considerable economic stake and at the request of the Minister of Marine Resources, Customs has strengthened its controls on products of pearl - nuclei imported beads flowing within Polynesia and export beads - to protect the label "Tahitian Pearl".

An active and fruitful cooperation has been established between Customs and the management of marine resources. Customs control now have a sophisticated, high technology, which allows you to control the material constituting the nuclei imported. Today, imports of nuclei, carried out mainly by air including express freight, may be subject to a thorough inspection.

Checking the imported or exported goods is the heart of the mission of customs. Enforcing prohibitions affecting certain products is a priority. These important and recurrent seizures of prohibited illustrate the mission of protection by customs.

In this particular case, it was completed in two areas:
- Economic, hindering a practice detrimental to the pearl industry, which remains one of the pillars of the production and export of French Polynesia;
- Environmental, seizing the products of endangered species worldwide by unregulated international trade. Clams are indeed protected by the Washington Convention.

 

[Caitlin]

This is great actual photo of why the tridacna shells are no good as nuclei- even if they weren't CITES listed.

 

[Cyril Roger Brossard]

This is great actual photo of why the tridacna shells are no good as nuclei- even if they weren't CITES listed.

Caitlin that is what I am wondering. I do not know what the French government (local) did to further act on this matter, but it goes beyond the protection of the "Tahiti Pearl" name, Tridacna are indeed protected and I would love to know if the buyer will be prosecuted as well ( I doubt they'll find the seller).

 

[Ramona]

Are these nuclei that much cheaper? Or why would somebody want to ruin their harvest?

 

[KarinK]

Are these nuclei that much cheaper? Or why would somebody want to ruin their harvest?

Good question!

- Karin

 

[Sarah]

Although I hate the thought of anyone, from the farmer to the buyer, being duped by these, I'm so glad they crack and become useless when drilled. The giant clam is such a beautiful wonder of the sea. The idea of it being harvested for parts is rather sickening.

 

[CLICLASP]

That's one of the reason I NEVER drill Tahiti when I don't know where they are from, I had once a circular craking problem on drilling with a Tahiti pearl belonging to a customer, don't know where he got it from, so never do it again,
and NEVER had any problem with Josh'ones.

 

[Cyril Roger Brossard]

That's one of the reason I NEVER drill Tahiti when I don't know where they are from, I had once a circular craking problem on drilling with a Tahiti pearl belonging to a customer, don't know where he got it from, so never do it again,
and NEVER had any problem with Josh'ones.

Do you think this is solely found with Tahitian pearls? Tridacna is not limited to Central south pacific ocean right? if (big if) those nucs are indeed cheaper wouldn't they be an attractive alternative for many other pearl farming countries?

 

[Cyril Roger Brossard]

Although I hate the thought of anyone, from the farmer to the buyer, being duped by these, I'm so glad they crack and become useless when drilled. The giant clam is such a beautiful wonder of the sea. The idea of it being harvested for parts is rather sickening.

View attachment 19520

May I ask where was this picture taken from? (Definitely from a shallow area.) Thanks.

Also I experienced in the past cracking of the nacre (two times) yet the nuclei used were not Tridacna.

(answered in post#13)

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I have a couple of curiosities too.

Does CITES only apply to trade from harvesting live tridacna?

The reason I ask, is there must be enormous numbers of shells remaining from natural mortalities. Is trade in these shells permitted for other purposes whether it be nuclei, shell beads, holy water basins or flower pots etc.?

Tahiti has taken the lead by banning their useage as nucs, but for quality control reasons, as opposed to a species at risk?

 

[Cyril Roger Brossard]

I have a couple of curiosities too.

Does CITES only apply to trade from harvesting live tridacna?

The reason I ask, is there must be enormous numbers of shells remaining from natural mortalities. Is trade in these shells permitted for other purposes whether it be nuclei, shell beads, holy water basins or flower pots etc.?

Tahiti has taken the lead by banning their usage as nucs, but for quality control reasons, as opposed to a species at risk?

Good question. I am not sure if all species are considered vulnerable, drastic action were taken in Indo-Pacific to protect the natural resources and I believe this was concluded with an increase in the indigenous population.
Each country must have specific laws with various level of implementation.
link.
link.

These clams are now classified as vulnerable, and are protected by the CITES agreement so they cannot be exported without a permit. Attempts at farming them have also helped to reduce pressure on wild populations; and may be used to help restock wild populations where necessary. With a bit of thought and care these beasts of the mollusc world can return to their old haunts in the Indo-Pacific waters.

So IF the clams originated from aquaculture they may NOT be governed by the same restrictions.
Mere possession of a dead Tridacna is punishable by law in the RP's.

Tahiti has taken the lead by banning their useage as nucs, but for quality control reasons, as opposed to a species at risk?

Yes Dave, that is what I understood from the article.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I suppose anything is allowable under permit, provided management of the fishery meets certain criteria.

Locally, abalone is considered a species at risk, where it's closed to to harvesting by all user groups, despite the rise in sea otter populations continuing to decimate them. The shells from these wash ashore occasionally and often appear in thrift shops or other novelty stores and there exists numerous art pieces, musical instruments, furniture etc. where it's inlaid.

Although a grey area, nobody seems to dispute utilization in that manner.

 

[Cyril Roger Brossard]

Although I hate the thought of anyone, from the farmer to the buyer, being duped by these, I'm so glad they crack and become useless when drilled. The giant clam is such a beautiful wonder of the sea. The idea of it being harvested for parts is rather sickening.

View attachment 19520

Photograph by George Grall.
He is a National Geographic Photographer.
The picture appears to be taken in Australia.
Thought to answer my own question... (post #9).

 

[KAC]

Although I hate the thought of anyone, from the farmer to the buyer, being duped by these, I'm so glad they crack and become useless when drilled. The giant clam is such a beautiful wonder of the sea. The idea of it being harvested for parts is rather sickening.

View attachment 19520

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Cyril Roger Brossard]

Yes as seen from a modern and environmentally conscious point of view, I couldn’t agree more especially considering that the habitat of those clams is constantly challenged and that a wide choice of food do exist for most of us in the 21st century.

This said, in places where groceries and department store are as rare as cars, I have witnessed a diver harvesting Tridacna underwater for food, he eventually started eating while underwater… Well couldn’t be fresher I guess.

I have seen shoreline covered with dead Tridacna and remains of turtle, the local communities favorite food.

I have seen mass fishing expeditions with up to 80 Tridacna in a boat, luckily (for us and the Tridacna) we intercepted them before they could leave our AOR. When asked they said that the market was good for Tridacna meat, and the buyers were mostly Chinese.

Aquaculture may be the only solution, as poorer people will always try to fish them either for their own consumption or as a mean of income.

As long as there is demand, there will be offer.