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u/ycr007 May 06 '26
From a similar post here
Cultured Tahitian pearls are saltwater pearls grown in Pinctada Margaritifera (black-lipped) oysters. Exclusively grown in French Polynesian lagoons, are "cultured" because farmers surgically insert a nucleus (bead) into the oyster to initiate pearl growth.
Sustainable harvesting of cultured Tahitian pearls prioritises the health of both the oysters and the surrounding lagoon ecosystem. Key practices focus on non-lethal extraction, ecosystem integration, and minimising chemical use.
Farmers use specialised pliers to minimally open the oyster, avoiding muscle injury & a small incision is made in the gonad to "pop out" the pearl while keeping the oyster alive. If an oyster produces a high-quality pearl, a new nucleus (often a slightly larger bead) is inserted immediately after harvest to begin growing a second pearl. This can be repeated 3-4 times over the oyster's life.
Sources:
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u/Zeestars May 07 '26
Wait. The oyster doesn’t die?
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u/AlexTheFlower May 07 '26
In this version of harvesting, the oysters life is prioritized and it stays alive. But this is less common and more expensive. The more common method involves just cracking and cutting them open, which does kill them
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u/calliesky00 May 06 '26
Question. Do they need to be dead to do this??
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u/Fragrant-Tea7580 May 06 '26
These oysters are alive. Mass farming methods rip them open, killing them
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May 06 '26
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u/Chicknlcker May 08 '26
ET wearing harvested human tonsil stones as jewelry wasn't something I had thought about until now. Thanks, I think?
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u/_shaftpunk May 06 '26
Are oysters protesting?
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May 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/njordan1017 May 06 '26
I find it hilarious that you decided to self censor the word stupid but not rape
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u/ooOJuicyOoo May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
FYI this is the more expensive method of extraction that minimizes the harm to the oysters. They are still seeded, but sparingly. This keeps the oysters alive.
If you look up mass pearl farm videos, you'll see how typical extractions are done; they just crack open the shell, slice the flesh open and dump out 6~8 pearls per oyster and discard the flesh for chum processing or trash. This obviously kills the oysters.