Research need
This small research activity supports the continued development of livelihood and commercial opportunities made possible from the successful introduction of mabé pearl culture to Vietnam.
The activity builds on a previous ACIAR investment (FIS/2016/126) that demonstrated the feasibility of mabé pearl farming in Vietnam, which is in its early stages of technical development but there is ready and positive uptake of this new aquaculture activity by rock oyster farmers in the Khanh Hoa Province. The species used for mabe pearl production is the winged pearl oyster, Pteria penguin, which is easily propagated via hatchery culture and has the biological potential to be grown along most of the extensive coastline of Vietnam.
A large mabé pearl sector has multiple potential livelihood benefits but development of an industry depends on fine-tuning technical aspects of production, fostering craftmanship (jewellery/handicraft making) and developing business acumen and marketing skills of women.
