Pearl aquaculture is the farming practice done with the aim of producing pearls harvested from grown pearl oysters. This kind of farming takes a long time to be fully established, since the oysters take a long while to form pearls. The key to business success is competition, and therefore the methods that involves the development of pearl aquaculture is aimed at maximizing the profit of the business through the use of the technical information needed to learn how to operate pearl aquaculture farming (Haws 02).
Though the basic methods for pearl aquaculture farming activity seem simple, pearl aquacultures requires the proper capital investment and maintenance to operate the business venture, that is, the pearl farm. This kind of farming is attractive to tourists since it is a business venture associated with high value end products where the most commonly greatly valued are the black pearls. The black pearls are often grown and harvested from the Black-Lip pearl oysters and usually are expensive, depending on the size and quality of the pearls (Pullin, Rosenthal, and Maclean 1993).
Plan of Action
After the conducting the feasibility study, the needs for the pearl aquaculture farming practice, the selection of a suitable site for operations commences. Investing a good amount of money, approximately 20,000 to 30,000 dollars ensures there is financial security for funding the operational costs for producing of pearls (Jadhav 09).
Although initiating a pearl farm and maintaining its operability for an extended and sufficient time frame to ultimately acquire a stable return may take as long as four to five years. The the long term objectives of pearl aquaculture guarantee reasonable income earning from the trading of pearls. The operating costs comprise of the attaining of a business location, the shipping of technical equipment like scuba diving suits and acquiring of other operational material and gadgets for facilitating the commercial enterprise (Haws 02).
Considering the farm size and other fixed cost of the boat, the labor needed, the prime location or site with rich nutrients for the young pearl oysters, the cost for maintenance, the costs involved in the grafting and hiring of specialized personnel in sea diving and grafting technician are essential for success in pearl aquaculture. Also, marketing of pearls amounts to expenses that are retainable after the pearl aquaculture breakeven point in the market. Pearl aquaculture has been proven to earn a lot for revenue if practiced in a large scale setting (Pullin, Rosenthal, and Maclean 1993).
Business Success and Profitability
One of the principal advantages of pearl aquaculture farming is that the final products are usually lightweight and non-perishable. This is supported by the artificial way of producing pearls which saves on costs since pearl aquaculture requires no preservation or refrigeration (Gervis & Neil 92). Having the exclusion of the grafting procedure, pearl farming is a fairly simple method of aquaculture since oysters do not need artificial foods, constant attention or complex farm structures.
Another advantage operating pearl aquaculture is that it is ecofriendly since pearl aquaculture is a cleaning agent for water. The filter feeder oysters purify the water and the shellfish farms offer a natural habitat for fish which improves the species variety. Pearl aquaculture also decreases turbidity thus it improves light infiltration on the water body environment. Pearl aquaculture improves water quality through regulating anoxia and nitrification. Water quality is regulated and improved by oysters that clear over 15 gallons of water a day per oyster.
The oysters are absorbent to particles as insignificant as to 2 micron which in a small farm exponentially clears millions of gallons of water each day through accumulating heavy metals from the water body (Haws 02).
Pearl aquaculture would be profitable since one of the top reasons for practicing pearl aquaculture is earning revenue while supporting tourism. The benefits for innovating pearl aquaculture farming technology which are of great interest to tourist and also pearl aquaculture promotes exports to far off countries. Pearl aquaculture farming promotes foreign exchange incomes and also creates the potential for incredible employment opportunities which stimulate socio-economic development.
The pearl aquaculture farmer farming practices should be exceptional from the cultivation, rearing and harvesting since it is anticipated in producing high quality and marketable pearls. The high quality pearls are usually high priced in the market after a big harvest. The available and profitable markets with ready demands that would facilitate the export of this commodity are Italy, Japan, and Korea (Jadhav 09).
Works Cited
Gervis, M H., and Neil, Sims A. The Biology and Culture of Pearl Oysters (bivalvia Pteriidae). London, England: Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom, 1992. Print.
Haws, Maria C. The Basics of Pearl Farming: A Layman's Manual. Waimanalo, Hawaii: Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, 2002. Print.
Jadhav, Ujwala. Aquaculture Technology and Environment. New Delhi: PHI Learning, 2009. Print.
Pullin, Roger S. V, H Rosenthal, and J L. Maclean. Environment and Aquaculture in Developing Countries. Manila, Philippines: International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, 1993. Print.
