Cultured black pearls are now the tirst export value of French Polynesia. This fast growing activity encourage the retum of the islanders to their native islands and the revival of the economy of the archipelagoes. However, the importance of the development induced sorne technical and economical problems. New reglementations are needed to organize the market and stabilize the black pearl price, the quotation of which is falling since 1990. After the important mortalities which occured in 1985-1 986, the mother of pearl general investigation program was set up. Il aims at the study of the biology and the ecology of the mother of pearl Pinclada margaritifera. The study of the nutrition of this oyster is part of this program and will contribute to the... |