With less than six weeks until the 2024 CIBJO Congress opens in Shanghai, the CIBJO Pearl Commission has released its sixth pre-congress Special Report. Led by Kenneth Scarratt, the report delves into environmental and biochemical research focused on pearls and the ecosystems where pearl oysters thrive, examining the effects on pearl farming, marketing, and product quality.

The report highlights growing concerns over microplastics polluting pearl-farming waters, as evidence shows their potential impact on biomineralization processes in oysters. Scarratt suggests the continued monitoring of microplastics in pearling waters and the regulation of plastic disposal as crucial steps forward.

The report also discusses regenerative pearl farming, as noted by sustainable value expert Pierre Fallourd, and the challenges of balancing production and sustainability under Australia’s strict conservation policies, as shared by Peter Bracher of the Paspaley Pearling Company.

This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the evolving relationship between scientific research and the future of the pearl industry.

The report also features contributions from DANAT (Bahrain Institute for Pearls & Gemstones), the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and Ryuichiro Machizawa, General Manager at K. Mikimoto & Co. in Japan.