Contents
The Pearl and the Lagoons’ Protection
The Pearl and the Environment
The pearl and the environment form the simplest and most fragile equation ever. Simple because one relies on the other and vice versa. Fragile because without a healthy environment, there is no beautiful pearl. This natural biotope becomes weaker due to the culture of several hundred-thousands of pearl oysters stocked in the pearl farm’s stations close to each other, increasing the threat risk. Yet, the perfect harmony of "salinity, temperature, oxygen, and nutrients" doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. This environment must be protected, not just temporarily, but for the long term; a young pearl oyster needs at least five years before becoming a mother of pearl ready for grafting and harvesting.
Keeping that in mind, Robert Wan signed a moral contract with the atolls and lagoons he loves, as well as with the men and women he works with, to respect and protect the environment. Inflexible scientific observers monitor water quality, marine fauna, and lagoon flora. In his pearl farms, the daily rhythm is guided by attention and care for the lagoon and farming: no detergent but organic soaps, no fertilizer, no antifouling paint, rainwater saving, and waste repatriation to Tahiti. The pearl oyster offers the extraordinary miracle of giving birth to a gem that has remained unique in the world for 500 million years. It is our duty to protect its environment.
In Robert Wan’s pearl farms, this commitment has been recognized by the highest authorities: South Marutea facilities were BIO certified in 2009. The other lagoons followed. It was not a matter of time, but a challenge.
