Across the Pacific and Southeast Asia, mabé pearl farming is emerging not just as a niche market, but as a viable pathway to economic diversification and social empowerment—particularly for women and youth in coastal communities.
In Tonga, Ms Naua Lakai exemplifies the transformative impact of this sector. An artisan and pearl farmer since 2019, she now leads the Tongan National Pearl Farmers Association and has played a central role in the ACIAR-supported mabé pearl research initiative. According to Lakai, the research has had “a lasting impact,” catalysing both livelihoods and local capacity.
The growth is tangible. The Vava’u Pearl Centre, operated by the association, is expanding its footprint—with new workshop spaces for artisans and a separate visitor and sales centre underway. What was once a small-scale venture is gradually maturing into a more structured, community-led industry.
Crucially, the initiative is inclusive by design. “Our members are all ages—from youths to older people. There’s work for everyone,” Lakai says, reflecting the sector’s potential for broad-based participation and intergenerational engagement.
Beyond Tonga, similar efforts are unfolding in Fiji and Vietnam, where pearl farming is being integrated into sustainable coastal livelihoods, underpinned by local ownership, environmental stewardship, and gender equity.
For regional policymakers and development partners, the mabé pearl sector represents a compelling case study in value-added aquaculture. It demonstrates how targeted research, combined with community mobilisation and artisanal skill-building, can produce not only economic returns but social capital.
As Pacific Island nations grapple with the twin pressures of climate vulnerability and limited formal employment, such community-centred enterprises offer a durable, culturally grounded path to resilience.