Thailand South Sea Pearl Farming

Just found this article in what I would call an "obscure" e-Magazine called "Hatchery International" that caters to specialists in aquaculture and fish/crustacean/mollusk hatcheries.

The article includes nice photos and interesting information that many will appreciate. The farm under scrutiny is called "Phuket Pearl Farm" (they even have a Tour if interested). This company's website is...well, full of typos and weird wording (guessing it was translated from Thai, and not very successfully) but the article is rather good!

They are growing both Akoya and Silver-lips at their farm.


Hope you find it interesting! You can read the article HERE.

 

Interesting. Thanks Douglas.

 

Interesting. Thanks Douglas.

My pleasure my dear Sister!

 

They wish they still could grow pearls in Phuket Thailand, the waters there are too poluted by tourists and overfishing.

Even I worry about the sea water quality in the Mergui Archipelago in the southern part of Myanmar.

 

They wish they still could grow pearls in Phuket Thailand, the waters there are too poluted by tourists and overfishing.

Even I worry about the sea water quality in the Mergui Archipelago in the southern part of Myanmar.

Hey @Cees great to have you back! So, what you are saying is that this is simply a "Tourist Farm" due to pollution. Where is pearl farming actually taking place in Myanmar today?

 

Pearl farming in Myanmar is taking place in the Mergui Archipelago in the southern part of the country, more than 800 islands can be found there.
Very rarely they find also Melo Melo pearls in this area.

 

Hi Cees! What do you know about the pearls harvested in Myanmar? I have some Myanmar pearls I think are quite beautiful, but I rarely see them for sale over here. Is the production limited, or are they going to another market?

 

There are a few farms still operating. Some had difficulties during covid and getting technicians to site, some were not bothered to any great extent for production but hard to get goods to market. It's improving now but slowly slowly. Last I was there was in 2019.

 

Hi Jeg, how are you? There are still auctions of Myanmar pearls by the government, also in Hong Kong by Bel Pearl and my partner here in Bangkok told me that he also can buy pearls from a Myanmar Pearl farmer directly. Rio Pearl in Hong Kong also has a supply of Myanmar.
Pearls from Myanmar are recognized for a beautiful nacre buildup and innerglow. Preference from many pearl buyers.

 

There are a few farms still operating. Some had difficulties during covid and getting technicians to site, some were not bothered to any great extent for production but hard to get goods to market. It's improving now but slowly slowly. Last I was there was in 2019.

Many pearl farms were severely affected by the lack of travel during the period...their technicians could simply not travel to do their job.
If you happen upon any news please do let us know!

 

Thank you, Pearling Technologies, Cees, and Douglas, for the information! Thank you, Cees, I am doing great! I hope all is well with you, too!

 

Thank you Jeg, I am ding fine too. Just heard from a Myanmar farmer that there was a pearlfarm on the island Phuket but that one stopped producing around 5 years ago but still is a tourist spot to visit. There are 12 pearlfarms in Myanmar still

 

Thank you Jeg, I am ding fine too. Just heard from a Myanmar farmer that there was a pearlfarm on the island Phuket but that one stopped producing around 5 years ago but still is a tourist spot to visit. There are 12 pearlfarms in Myanmar still

Thanks @Cees so this means this farm is basically a touristic spot. And there are 12 real pearl farms in other parts of the country.

 

Hi Cees! What do you know about the pearls harvested in Myanmar? I have some Myanmar pearls I think are quite beautiful, but I rarely see them for sale over here. Is the production limited, or are they going to another market?

Hi Jeg, just FYI on Myanmar: pearl exports to the USA are currently banned

U.S. Treasury Sanctions Burma Pearl Producer

<p>The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) slapped sanctions today on Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE), a state-owned pearl producer. MPE will now be added to OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals List, which means that U.S. companies are forbidden to do business...

www.jckonline.com

 

CortezPearls, not sure if you understood the situation but no more pearl farming in Thailand but more north in Myanmar in the southern part of Myanmar there are 12 farms operating. Jersey Pearl I know about Myanmar pearls that they are sought after as they are considered premium pearls because of the different layer build-up of the nacre. Tasaki is the most wellknown company in the biz having a farm there also.

As gemstones, teakwood, jade are also coming from Myanmar it is understood that there is an import ban into the US might cause a problem for the time being. But for pearls it is difficult to determine the origin.

 

CortezPearls, not sure if you understood the situation but no more pearl farming in Thailand but more north in Myanmar in the southern part of Myanmar there are 12 farms operating. Jersey Pearl I know about Myanmar pearls that they are sought after as they are considered premium pearls because of the different layer build-up of the nacre. Tasaki is the most wellknown company in the biz having a farm there also.

As gemstones, teakwood, jade are also coming from Myanmar it is understood that there is an import ban into the US might cause a problem for the time being. But for pearls it is difficult to determine the origin.

Got it! No more commercial pearl farming in Thailand. All regional operations are in Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Thanks for the update Cees. There used to be reports that one could access to know these things, in sources such as Pearl World, Jewelry News Asia, and even in GIA Gem Notes, amongst others, but these are rarer all the time.
My guess that this is the best source for information right now.

 

Thank you for all the info everyone! I’m glad I was able to get my pearls a while ago. I certainly don’t want to support their coup.