Oyster farming and pearl culture for export

Ideal waters for pearl oyster farming

As a coastal province in the Gulf of Thailand, Kien Giang has a total sea area of more than 63,000 km², with hundreds of large and small islands, so it has great advantages for developing the ocean economy. Of which, Phu Quoc island city has a natural area of about 589 km², with a coastline of 150 km and a sea area of approximately 6,000 km², which is very convenient for the development of aquaculture. 

Promoting this advantage, Ngoc Hien Pearl Phu Quoc Company Limited has pioneered in implementing the project "Culturing high-quality pearls," which brings economic, social, and environmental benefits and especially contributes to regenerating and protecting aquatic resources.

On an afternoon with nice weather, I and Mr. Nguyen Trong Hien, Deputy Director in charge of farming and project development of Ngoc Hien Pearl Phu Quoc Company Limited, went by canoe to the sea area in Rach Vem hamlet, Ganh Dau commune, Phu Quoc city, to visit the unit's oyster farming and pearl culturing area. Long rows of floating buoys bobbing on the water surface mark the farming area. Below are oyster cages suspended in the middle of the clear blue sea water. 

According to Mr. Hien, Ngoc Hien Pearl Phu Quoc Company Limited was a pioneer in investing in oyster farming and pearl culture in Phu Quoc waters nearly 30 years ago. Currently, the company is planning to rent a sea area with an area of over 1,000 hectares of water surface to implement a high-tech pearl-cultured oyster farming project with a closed and sustainable process. The project implementation plan is divided into two phases: Phase 1 of 2020-2024 will stock with an area of 504 hectares, and Phase 2 is 503 hectares, implemented from 2025 to 2030. The company commits to using the entire assigned sea area to invest in oyster farming and pearl culture, contributing to the implementation of Vietnam's ocean economic development strategy. The company is now creating jobs for over 230 workers, stabilizing life and social security, contributing to the local budget, and contributing to protecting sea and island sovereignty.

Producing over 1 million pearls/year

Mr. Hien said that currently, Ngoc Hien Pearl Phu Quoc Company Limited has completely mastered the technology of producing oyster seeds, raising commercial oysters, and using raw oysters to implant embryos to create pearls. In phase 1 of the project (from 2020 to 2024), the company stocks on an area of 504 hectares, using two oyster species: Pinctada maxima and Pinctada martensii, and harvests them twice a year. The annual harvest output is about 450-500 kg of jude, equivalent to about 500,000 pearls of all kinds. 

Phase 2 (from 2025 to 2030) will deploy an additional area of 503 hectares to reach a total area of more than 1,000 hectares of sea surface. With this area, the company will harvest about 900,000 to 1 million pearls/year. In addition to oyster farming and pearl culture, Ngoc Hien Pearl Phu Quoc Company Limited also builds and operates a supply chain for consuming products crafted from pearls to serve the domestic market and export to foreign countries such as Japan, the US, Europe, and some other Asian countries.

According to Mr. Hien, the State's implementation of the policy of allocating sea surface to businesses to develop aquaculture not only brings economic value but also contributes to the recovery and conservation of aquatic resources. Specifically, Ngoc Hien Pearl Phu Quoc Company Limited has implemented research into the production of artificial oyster seeds in order to be proactive in seed sources to develop sustainable aquaculture. This not only meets long-term production needs but also helps balance the ecology of Phu Quoc's marine environment. 

Along with that, Ngoc Hien Pearl Phu Quoc Company Limited has coordinated with the Management Board of Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area to release 45 million oyster seeds into the natural area to regenerate resources. Besides, the company also cooperates with the Institute of Oceanography to create an artificial coral nursery to contribute to preserving biodiversity in Phu Quoc waters.