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Copyright of Lembaran Sejarah is the property of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Department of History and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Examining the role of pearls in recognizing some historical and traditional concepts governing the social and economic relations of the Persian Gulf inhabitance and especially the central and southern coasts of the Persian Gulf due to its position in explaining the historical events and contexts of Persian Gulf region Administration has a special significance. Pearls have been defined as an important commodity in the region's traditional economy, prompting the researcher to explore its various social, economic, and political dimensions. Among the important historical backgrounds, recognizing and redefining how to manage this vast trade in local and regional dimensions and continuing to find traces of Iranian bureaucracy, focused in this particular case Study. This article, with an analytical approach and based on some historical evidence, seeks to answer the fundamental question of what is the trace of Iranian bureaucracy in this process, given the mechanism of pearl fishing and trade? The prevailing premise is that bureaucracy has indirectly contributed to the management of fishing grounds and the regulation of pearl fishing grounds.

This study was conducted to propose and identify suggestions for pathways to maintain the sustainability of the pearl industry, a cultural value asset rooted in the region, and to revitalize coastal communities through the pearl industry. Using a qualitative approach, this study sought the opinions of relevant stakeholders based on key themes from the literature review and compiled an agenda for further research and discussion. Specifically, focus group discussions were held with pearl industry stakeholders, local residents, the pearl industry and organizations, tourists, and the public sector, and the views among the four stakeholder groups were analyzed. As a result, the following factors were identified as likely to contribute to the sustainability of the cultured pearl industry: (1) co-creation of value through collaboration between the local stakeholders and local communities (satoumi), (2) efforts to pass on and innovate traditional cultured pearl technology seeking global markets, and (3) enhancement of industrial support measures in coastal areas through collaboration between residents, industry, and government to create an ecology-focused inbound tourism strategy. Stakeholders are strongly aware of the need to promote to the world the value of unique cultured pearls and gemstones that rely on traditional Japanese technology and to attract tourists, along with the development of the next generation of pearl industry leaders, but further systematic intervention is required to achieve this goal. The results of this study are expected to serve as a basis for the next steps in presenting further suggestions through integrated analysis with quantitative economic data. They may also provide guidance for the development of pathways to regional development through the revitalization of local industries and tourism innovation in other coastal regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1-AbstractAssessment of the role of pearls in recognizing some historical and traditional concepts governing the social and economic relations of inhabitants around the Persian Gulf, especially its central and southern coasts, is of great significance due to their special position for explaining the historical events and contexts of the Persian Gulf Region Administration. Pearl has been defined as an important commodity in the region's traditional economy, prompting researchers to explore its various social, economic, and political dimensions. Among the important historical backgrounds, recognizing and redefining how to manage this vast trade in local and regional dimensions and continuing to find traces of Iranian bureaucracy were the focus of this particular case study. With its analytical approach and based on some historical evidence, this article sought to answer the fundamental question of what the trace of Iranian bureaucracy in this process was given the mechanism of pearl fishing and trading. The prevailing premise was that bureaucracy had indirectly contributed to fishing management and regulation of pearl-fishing grounds.2- Introduction Traditionally and historically, the southern coastline of the Persian Gulf, along with the southern coast of Iran, was based on geographical proximity, common religion and economic interests, and political and social ties. In the meantime, trade interactions, especially participation in trading for goods and fisheries, were more important. In the context of interactions for gaining economic benefits from the sea, pearl fishing and trading were of particular significance due to the role of different strata in gaining broad financial benefits. This could be the basis for doing a historical analysis on the role of pearl fishing and trading in creating a kind of collective participation and historical interaction between coastal residents on both sides of the Persian Gulf. Interactions that had existed since ancient times and throughout the history of the Islamic era were reinforced by the strengthening of religious ties between Iranians and Arabs and continued until the Qajar period. Since pearl fishing was the most important platform for economic activities of the coastal residents, who were scattered along the southern shores of the Persian Gulf and had no other livelihoods, pearl fishing and trading were the major and central platform for their roles in the local Persian Gulf economy. This presence was more prominent in the major pearl sites in the region, namely around Bahrain, east and west of Qatar Peninsula, and around the islands of Abu Dhabi. Understanding the nature of this interaction, the important role of Iranian captains and merchants in this business, and the need for convergence and coordination among coastal residents revealed the role of their common interests in creating this ancient traditional system and a better communication for strengthening those interests. Although the evolution of the international system and development of the trade and security systems by securing British Naval Power and preserving the Indian Empire changed the long-standing relations and local traditions in the Persian Gulf, pearl fishing and trading so well dominated over the region due to its complexity and special characteristics. It was less affected by the conditions of the new era and was able to maintain its existence until the 1930s. Go on with your life. Nevertheless, the first half of the 19th century …AD/13 AH. The pattern of beach-dwelling relations with the presence of pearl fisheries on the southeast coast was the same as the traditional patterns. Meanwhile, the southeastern shores of the Persian Gulf were the most important pearl-fishing grounds in the entire Indian Ocean basin and an important center of mass gathering and collective participation of coastal residents throughout the ports and islands of the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, despite the historical importance of the principles of interaction and participation in the coastal residents’ social lives, the major issue for Iranian and Arab scholars in the present era was to address the qualities and scopes of Iranian and Arab governments’ influences and powers in Persian Gulf ports and islands. Hence, less attention was paid to the issue of interaction and participation of both groups in the social and economic contexts. Although a brief look at the historical and human geography and climate on the shores of the Persian Gulf revealed the concentration of human settlements on the northern shores (present-day coasts of Iran) and the dominance of Iranian elements on the sea. The social and economic lives on the ports and islands were neglected. Participation continued from the distant past to the domination of modern security systems in the 14th century AH/20 AD. Therefore, the developments that occurred during the last two centuries necessitated recognition of some historical foundations of connections between the coastal and maritime areas on both sides of the Persian Gulf. Due to the economic and communication significance of this commercial region, pearls were of historical importance among the commercial goods in the Persian Gulf as they had a special role in the coastal residents’ livelihood and local economy. Pearl was known as a locally produced commodity and unlike other important transit commodities, such as spices, horses, textiles, nuts, etc., it was not merely a transit commodity, while it belonged to the coastal areas and the coastal people permanently participated in catching and processing it. The difference between pearl and other important local commodities like salt was in its reliance on fishing techniques and complexity and trading process, as well as its necessities. Knowledge and experience, along with the financial resources derived from the pearl trade, provided a balance for coastal residents against foreign interference. Moreover, the deep connection of pearls with all aspects of local people’s social lives and the scope of activities related to it were in such a way that even oil, despite its economic importance beyond pearls, was not as a cultural activity linked to the sea people’s lives as pearls, which created closeness. However, the most important issue in this regard was the complexity of how Iranians were related to pearl fishing and trading in the Persian Gulf.Scattered historical references to pearl fishing and trading were the basis for understanding some important aspects of the interactions between the two shores. In addition to the book "Al-Magha's Al-Laali and Minar Al-Laali" (Sadid al-Saltanah Kababi (1371), which was published under the Persian name of "Northern Lands ..." and whose main title and contents had brief references to fishing and trading in the Persian Gulf region, a short book on the subject of pearls entitled "Al-Manas fi Ahwal al-Ghousva al-Al-Wass" by Sadid al-Saltanah Kababi (1308) was available. Also, there was a collection of documents related to pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf. This four-volume collection of documents from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century contained statistics and reports that showed the role of pearls in coastal people’s livelihoods. Among the official documents and reports of the British agency in the Persian Gulf, which were in the form of several independent collections, the detailed collection of Saldanha and Lorimer was included as well. 3- Materials & Methods Through historical and analytical methods and based on library studies, this article tried to answer the basic question of what role this commodity played in creating interaction and convergence among the coastal residents of the Persian Gulf according to the mechanism of pearl fishing and trading. The prevailing assumption was that the process of attending fishing grounds and the rules and regulations governing fishing culture played an important role in creating convergence and interaction among coastal residents with regard to the importance of pearl fishing and trading, as well as researchers' emphasis on the existence of rules and traditional customs.4- Discussion of Results & Conclusions Obtaining financial benefits for political centers on the northern shores of the Persian Gulf provided an explanation to the importance of this industry and trade. A closer look at the events revealed that the central role of pearl industry in the inhabitants’ lives and livelihoods on the southern coasts had not been studied by researchers despite the existence of some references in the sources, which could sufficiently encourage them to perform explanatory research in these areas. The historical nature of coastal dwellers’ connection and interactions based on the culture and economy of pearls should be carefully studied as one of the most original and fundamental foundations of the history of the Persian Gulf region.Pearls had a special place in the local economy of the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf due to their historical importance, so much so that in official reports, they were mentioned as the strength of the scattered settlements on the southern coasts. In the first Qajar era, the basis of interactions between both sides of the Persian Gulf was a continuation of the historical trading traditions in the form of the presence of fishing fleets and residents in pearl fisheries in Iranian ports. In the field of pearl trading, which was considered to be the most important livelihood activity of dwellers on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, an unwritten and, of course, precise mechanism, which Lorimer considered a Sassanid tradition, made the basis for creating order between thousands of boats and ships. These traditions were seen in the spatial and temporal divisions of fishermen's groups and timing of the presence of large and small ships, merchants, etc., expressing common interests and the necessity of establishing a system of customs on both sides of the northern and southern coasts. This did the right thing even without a direct supervision in the Qajar period, which was the result of the emergence of new European mechanisms that remained strong until the middle of the 14th century AH/20 AD. Despite the weakness and decline of the Qajar ruling system, this continuous presence showed that local traditions were a key factor in preserving the region's historical identity by strengthening the interaction between coastal residents even in the absence of direct supervision of the central government. These traditions reflected an important part of the coastal inhabitants’ economic and social lives.

This study traces the modern origins of the Kafala migrant labour sponsorship system in the Gulf Arab States. The sponsorship system was a product of the British colonial era, particularly the period from the 1920s until independence in the 1970s. Colonial administrators introduced sponsorship requirements in order to control labour migration in the pearl industry shortly before the discovery of oil in the region, and its use was further regularized and widely applied with the increasing migrant labour working in the oil companies. British officials viewed migrant labour as both a necessity and a problem that needed to be regulated and controlled, both from the viewpoint of economic growth and security. As jurisdiction over foreigners was retroceded back to the newly created states in the independence era, sponsorship of foreign labour was ultimately restricted and delegated to citizens or companies owned by citizens. As a particular example, the case of the 'bachelor' worker is detailed as a legal-bureaucratic complex of sponsorship practices. Such practices are placed within a wider ensemble of British colonial policies for controlling labour and policing empire across the Indian Ocean in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the role of pearls in recognizing some historical and traditional concepts governing the social and economic relations of inhabitants around the Persian Gulf, especially its central and southern coasts, is of great significance due to their special position for explaining the historical events and contexts of the Persian Gulf Region Administration. Pearl has been defined as an important commodity in the region's traditional economy, prompting researchers to explore its various social, economic, and political dimensions. Among the important historical backgrounds, recognizing and redefining how to manage this vast trade in local and regional dimensions and continuing to find traces of Iranian bureaucracy were the focus of this particular case study. With its analytical approach and based on some historical evidence, this article sought to answer the fundamental question of what the trace of Iranian bureaucracy in this process was given the mechanism of pearl fishing and trading. The prevailing premise was that bureaucracy had indirectly contributed to fishing management and regulation of pearl-fishing grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the United Arab Emirates’ pearl industry during the period of British colonialization of the Arabian Gulf region, and, specifically, during the rise and decline of the pearl industry. The article aims to explore and analyze the development of the pearl industry in the UAE region, how it was constructed and reproduced from 1869 to 1938. One of the objectives of the study is to show that the pearl industry in the UAE region was a social construction in which the minority profited from financing the pearl extraction and export of pearls. The research also revels political, economic, and cultural factors of the reproduction of the pearl industry. The author shows that it was the colonial power behind the construction and reproduction of the pearl industry that was hierarchically structured. Within the hierarchical structure, the British rule implanted the financiers of the pearl industry, who served at the top level of the hierarchy. Other classes within this hierarchy consisted of local tujar merchants, tawawish middlemen, nawakhodha ship captains, ghawasin divers, siyub divers’ assistants, etc. The research proves the exploitative nature of the pearl industry financial distribution among different strata. The differences within the hierarchy in terms of role, power, myth, and financial distribution further helped this reproduction. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, several factors led to the decline of the pearl diving industry, such as the spread of Japanese cultural pearling. This decline led to the decline of all the classes in the UAE pearling industry and to the rise of new classes related to the oil industry. The article considers a wide range of approaches ranging from statistical, from British archival materials, to discursive analysis of the relationships between colonial and local, rules and citizens, local and non-local, and different strata within the hierarchy of the pearl industry.

French Polynesia's economy is largely dependent on the black pearl industry and associated export revenues. Accordingly, there is a need to understand fully the factors that influence quality and price of pearls - and threats to future sustainability. Focus, thus far, has been on production practices that affect pearl characteristics and quality. Although there is a generally accepted hierarchy in the characteristics of black pearls that determine quality and price, the contributory value of specific characteristics and their interdependence has not been assessed. We used information from two retailers that supply distinct markets to estimate the implicit value of black pearl characteristics, i.e. grade, shape and size. Calculated premiums and discounts revealed key similarities between retailers including that a more preferred shape demanded larger premiums than an improved grade. Results of this analysis will help direct research aimed at modifying production methods to increase the yield of higher value pearls. This is especially important given that climate change will, in fact, affect many environmental parameters that influence pearl quality. If ignored, such changes have the potential to negatively impact the quality of produced pearls with profound socio-economic consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spat collecting of the black lip oyster ( Pinctada margaritifera ) is the foundation of cultured black pearl production, the second source of income for French Polynesia. To understand spat collecting temporal and spatial variations, larval supply and its origin need to be characterized. To achieve this, it is necessary to account for the stock of oysters, its distribution and population characteristics (size distribution, sex-ratio). While the farmed stock in concessions can be easily characterized, the wild stock is elusive. Here, we investigate the distribution and population structure of the wild stock of Ahe and Takaroa atolls using fine-scale bathymetry and in situ census data. Stocks were surprisingly low (∼666,000 and ∼1,030,000 oysters for Ahe and Takaroa respectively) considering these two atolls have both been very successful spat collecting atolls in the past. Furthermore, in Ahe atoll, wild populations are aging with a dominant but small female population. Comparison with the cultured stock population (∼14 millions oysters) and its dominant young male population suggests that to maximize larval supply and spat collecting on the long term, it would be useful to increase the number of females in selected sanctuaries. We discuss the implication of our findings for the long-term management of stocks and for spat collection in pearl farming atolls, and for on-going numerical modelling studies on larval dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the results of a survey of the pearl oyster industry in French Polynesia territory. Its purpose is to examine the perceptions of the priorities for the development of this industry towards sustainable development. These perceptions were apprehended by a survey of pearl oyster farmers and other stakeholders of the sector (management authorities, scientists). After describing the methodological protocol of these investigations, it comes to confront the priorities chosen by professionals (i.e. pearl farmers) concerning sustainable development, with the perceptions of others stakeholders in the sector. Secondly it comes to build a typology of the priorities of pearl farmers concerning sustainable development. This analysis enables the assessment of the degree of convergence within the sector, which is the base material for defining a shared action plan at the territory scale. This is the first study compiling data of surveys of various professionals and stakeholders of the pearl farming industry in such a large area in French Polynesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pearl culture is one of the most lucrative aquacultures worldwide. In many South Pacific areas, it depends on the exploitation of the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera and relies entirely on the environmental conditions encountered in the lagoon. In this context, assessing the impact of climatic stressors, such as global warming and ocean acidification, on the functionality of the resource in terms of renewal and exploitation is fundamental. In this study, we experimentally addressed the impact of temperature (22, 26, 30 and 34 °C) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide p CO 2 (294, 763 and 2485 μatm) on the biomineralization and metabolic capabilities of pearl oysters. While the energy metabolism was strongly dependent on temperature, results showed its independence from p CO 2 levels; no interaction between temperature and p CO 2 was revealed. The energy metabolism, ingestion, oxygen consumption and, hence, the scope for growth (SFG) were maximised at 30 °C and dramatically fell at 34 °C. Biomineralization was examined through the expression measurement of nine mantle's genes coding for shell matrix proteins involved in the formation of calcitic prisms and/or nacreous shell structures; significant changes were recorded for four of the nine ( Pmarg -Nacrein A1 , Pmarg -MRNP34, Pmarg -Prismalin 14 and Pmarg -Aspein). These changes showed that the maximum and minimum expression of these genes was at 26 and 34 °C, respectively. Surprisingly, the modelled thermal optimum for biomineralization (ranging between 21.5 and 26.5 °C) and somatic growth and reproduction (28.7 °C) appeared to be significantly different. Finally, the responses to high temperatures were contextualised with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections, which highlighted that pearl oyster stocks and cultures would be severely threatened in the next decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofouling increases the operational and economic costs associated with pearl production. As current procedures for reducing oyster biofouling can be detrimental to survival and growth and may pollute the surrounding environment developing alternative, biologically-mediated, methods could potentially increase both production and ecological sustainability. With this in mind, the present study investigated natural cleaning of black-lipped pearl oysters, Pinctada margaritifera , by butterflyfishes ( Chaetodon ). The feeding behaviour of six butterflyfish species was examined at Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia: Chaetodon auriga , Chaetodon citrinellus , Chaetodon ephippium , Chaetodon lunulatus , Chaetodon trifascialis and Chaetodon ulietensis . All species cleaned the surface of pearl oysters by removing epibionts (from 16% to 40% of total biomass), although dietary variation may explain different cleaning efficiencies. Generalist omnivores ( C. auriga , C. citrinellus , C. ephippium and C. ulietensis ) were the most efficient cleaners (% cleaning range: 26–40% of total biomass). Within this group, C. ephippium removed the most biomass (average of 41%) targeting algae and anemones. However, C. auriga targeted the most diverse range of epibionts, removing significant amounts of algae, sponges, tunicates, and anemones. These results suggest that foraging by butterflyfishes can substantially reduce biofouling on economically-important tropical bivalves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Australasian Marketing Journal is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents information on the role of Scandinavians in the pearl rush starting in the 1870s in the area of Torres Strait between Australia and New Guinea, with special attention to the wages of the workers, the pearlshelling industry, and various settlers including Alfred Christian Mortensen and Andrew Oscar Charles Sinclair. Other topics mentioned in this article include the establishment of a Scandinavian community in Australia, historical sources, and residents of Thursday Island.

Cultured pearls quality produced by the mollusk Pinctada margaritifera var. cumingi is determined by a panel of criteria, of which shape is one of the most relevant. Cultured pearls with round and semi-round (RS) shapes are the most valuable. Decreasing the proportion of other pearl shapes (OT: baroque, button, drop, oval), and especially the circled pearls (CL) and rejects ( rebuts : RT), is an important challenge for the pearl industry. The present study examined the effect of grafter skill and season of graft on the variation in proportions of CL, RS, OT and RT cultured pearl shape categories in a mono-site culture (Mangareva island lagoon). Six large-scale grafting experiments, carried out in the same way as commercial grafting sessions, were made by seventeen experienced grafters over three seasons. After two years of culture, a total of 42,575 cultured pearls were harvested and sorted into shape categories. This study is the first to apply large-scale traceability to effects of individual grafter skill on cultured pearl shape in P. margaritifera . Grafter effects were clearly demonstrated on the proportions 1) of CL and RS, 2), to a in a lesser extent, of OT and RT, but 3) were low, affecting only a few percent of the overall means. For a high quality cultured pearl production, grafter effect could reduce CL rate by 7% and increase RS rate by 4%. In addition, the results indicate a significantly indirect influence of grafting season on shape class proportions, as these differ in autumn grafts, CL (− 12%), RS (+ 13%) and OT (+ 24%), in comparison to winter and spring. Possible implications of “oyster” physiological reproductive status are discussed, as the difference in grafting season corresponds to differences in maturity of the recipient “oysters”. Rates of RT were only increased (+ 14%) during the seasons when the lagoon water temperature was the coldest (winter) and the warmest (transition to summer). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Taibobo' is the name the Torres Strait Islanders give to the style of singing and dancing that they learned from the Rotuman sailors who worked in the marine industry in the late 19th century. The Islanders of Eastern Torres Strait continued to practise them long after the Rotumans had gone, as a part of a repertoire of songs and dances, old and new. Beckett recorded Taibobo in the 1950s. When a Rotuman researcher came to Torres Strait in 2004, Islanders could still sing the songs which, as it eventuated, only the oldest people in Rotuma could remember. The paper will place the Torres Strait adoption of the songs and dances in historical context and describe Taibobo - both the songs and the dances -as one of us encountered it in the 1950s, and later in 2004. Finally the response of contemporary Rotumans on hearing Taibobo recordings from the Torres Strait is documented, as well as the Islander responses to the re-establishment of contact after so many years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silver-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima , is of high economic importance to the global pearling industry. However, pearling industries worldwide have reported declines in gross pearl production values over the last decade, leading to the establishment of several genetic breeding programmes aiming to improve commercially important pearl production traits within pearl oyster stock. Even though the value of a pearl is directly determined by its graded quality, production traits such as host oyster shell growth and shell width define the timing of seeding operations and the size of the implanted nuclei, and therefore have considerable influence on the production of a pearl. In this study, the genetic architecture of complex oyster growth traits (i.e. shell height, length, width and weight) is explored and putative QTL and marker associations are identified. Heritability estimates for pearl oyster shell growth traits ranged from 0.18 to 0.33 indicating the potential for moderate response to genetic selection. A total of six QTL and four genetic associations were detected for four oyster shell growth traits (shell height, length, width and weight). These QTL are estimated to explain a minimum of 32.5%, 20.7% and 30.1% of the phenotypic variation observed in shell height (2 QTL), width (3 QTL) and weight (1 QTL) respectively within the 11 half-sib families ( n = 342). In addition, three of the four genetic associations detected for shell length (effect sizes from 3.3 to 4.3) are co-localised on LG4 near the mapped biomineralisation genes PFMG1, Pif177 and CS1. This study confirms previous quantitative genetic studies that oyster growth traits are polygenic, and provides additional evidence that these traits have sufficient genetic basis for improvement in animal selective breeding programmes. The preliminary QTL and genetic associations identified here also serve as prime candidates for ongoing analysis aiming to unravel the complex biological processes involved in pearl oyster growth and shell formation (i.e. biomineralisation). Furthermore, selection programmes incorporating marker information for growth traits with large QTL effects should further accelerate genetic gains within the P. maxima pearling industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultured free round pearls are produced by implanting a spherical nucleus with a small piece of nacre-secreting mantle graft from a donor oyster into the gonad of a recipient oyster (host). To examine the possible contribution of host and donor oysters to the colouration of the harvested pearls, the CSE-1 Imaging and Color-Measuring System were used to quantitatively measure the L*a*b* values of donor and host shells and the produced pearls in Pinctada martensii. Results showed that the colour of pearls had significant positive correlation ( r = 0.1-0.22, P = 0.00) with that of donors, but had no correlation with that of host oysters, thus convincingly confirmed the contribution of nacre colour of donor to the realization of pearl quality of colour. To further clarify the relationship between the donor and the pearl colour, the donors from pearls of good and poor colour quality were further compared and the results demonstrated the significant difference in L* values ( P < 0.05) and insignificant difference in a* and b* values, suggesting the necessity of selecting donors with bright and lustrous nacre in pearl production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winged pearl oyster, Pteria sterna, sustains a growing pearl industry in northwestern Mexico, where a subtropical climate prevails. In tropical areas of Mexico, pearl cultivation may be profitable, but insufficient information on the biology and ecology of the species limits the definition of protocols for creating pearl farms. We measured absolute growth, growth rate, reproductive stages, changes in oocyte size, and size at first maturity of juvenile P. sterna cultivated in Bahía de Acapulco over one annual cycle (2009-2010), and compared their response in this tropical area with reports from subtropical areas of Mexico. We also compared the von Bertalanffy growth model with one proposed in this study for aquaculture purposes. The growth rate was higher during the first six months (5.3 mm month-1) and then decreased to 3 mm month-1 until juveniles reached a size of 60 mm in one year. Growth rates were higher in February and lower in July through September. Both models described well the growth of P. sterna, but the adjustment and the estimation of parameters was better with the proposed model. Gametogenesis started in December 2009 at 50.9 mm (males) and 59.5 mm (females); gonad development occurred continuously throughout the year with a peak in February-March (~25-26 ℃ 2.8 μg L-1 chlorophyll a concentration), when the gonad index was highest and oocytes were larger. When compared to other studies conducted in subtropical areas, the species uses different strategies to channel available energy into growth and reproduction in tropical regions; P. sterna grows quickly in Bahía de Acapulco and may obtain the size necessary for grafting (70-80 mm shell height) in 15-17 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the annual Tucson gem and mineral trade show organized by the American Gem Trade Association in Tucson, Arizona in February 2014. Topics discusses include trends in the cultured pearl market and the demand for fine cultured pearls from China, designs of gem carver Sonja and Alexander Kreis and the operation of the chrysoprase chalcedony mine owned by the company Candala Chrysoprase in Queensland.

This essay explores cinema in the small island nation, the Kingdom of Bahrain, focusing especially on the first feature film,The Barrier(1990), and the country's developing film culture. The beginning of film-making and film exhibition in Bahrain is inextricably linked to the rise of the oil industry and the concurrent decline of the pearl industry – two institutional discourses that shape (often contradictory) cultural mythologies associated with modernity and tradition. The shoreline and sea imagery, and narrative and representational strategies ofThe Barrierpresent a cautionary message regarding insular existence, lack of a larger communal identity and absence of a sense of social and political responsibility. I connect my reading ofThe Barrierwith the larger Bahraini film cultural landscape, constructions of ‘Gulf’ cinema and contemporary transmedia assertions of Bahraini identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pearl shells are the main waste of the pearl industry, which discards millions of tons of pearl shells each year in China. To date, the use of pearl shells in the complete oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has not been reported. In this paper, shell powder (SP) was used as a carrier for ceria and Pd catalysts for the complete oxidation of benzene. The influence of the ceria promoter on the texture/structure and catalytic performance of Pd/SP was investigated. The results show that adding ceria into the SP support increased the BET surface area and total pore volume and decreased the sinterability of SP. The catalytic activity and H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR) results show that adding ceria can greatly improve the oxidation properties of Pd/SP catalysts and enhance the catalytic activity for the complete oxidation of benzene. The improvement in the catalytic activity is mainly due to the optimization of the catalyst texture/structure and redox properties by the strong interaction of Pd and ceria and the addition of ceria. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The triangle sail mussel Hyriopsis cumingii (Lea) is the most important mussel species used for commercial freshwater pearl production in China. Mussel color is an important indicator of pearl quality. To identify genes involved in the nacre coloring, we conducted RNA-seq and obtained 541,268 sequences (298 bp average size) and 440,034 sequences (293 bp average size) in secreting purple and white nacre libraries (P- and W-libraries), respectively. The 981,302 Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) were assembled into 47,812 contigs and 289,386 singletons. In BLASTP searches of the deduced protein, 22,495 were proteins with functional annotations. Thirty-three genes involved in pearl or shell formation were identified. Digital expression analysis identified a total of 358 differentially expressed genes, and 137 genes in the P-library and 221 genes in the W-library showed significantly higher expression. Furthermore, a set of SSR motifs and SNPs between the two samples was identified from the ESTs, which provided the markers for genetic linkage, QTL analysis and future breeding. These EST sequences provided valuable information to further understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation, color determination and evolution of the pearl or shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the media coverage of Aboriginal women and girls who were forced into prostitution for Japanese pearlers in the 1930s. The author analyzes the use of the term "Black Velvet" in the print coverage of the scandal as colloquial language referring to interracial sexuality, explores the sexualization of indigenous women, and examines the territorial issues of the pearl trade.

Abstract: Relaxation and excision of mantle tissue from live lions-paw scallops can assist in the optimum development of pre-operative techniques for pearl production in this species. To determine the feasibility of relaxing the scallop, five scallops were exposed to each of nine relaxant treatments previously used for pearl seeding operations. Relaxation and suitable conditions for seeding operations were obtained in scallops exposed to 30gL−1 magnesium chloride and to 1mLL−1 2-phenoxyethanol. To determine the healing capacity and ability to sustain tissue excision, a section of mantle tissue was removed from 15 relaxed scallops. Survival 30days after excision was 87% and all scallops showed signs of regeneration. Microscopic examination confirmed the elongation of the mantle epithelia and growth of new connective tissue. This relaxation technique is an important step in developing basic technology for pearl production, as previously accomplished with other species. This is an important tool that will improve successful production of lions-paw scallop cultured pearls. This can add significant value to the scallop-cultivating industry and the pearl industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Between the 1870s and the 1950s the north Australian pearl-shell industry relied on the labour of thousands of Indonesians who were employed as divers and crew on pearling luggers. While these men were referred to as Malays or Koepangers they were drawn from many different locations in eastern Indonesia, including Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku and southern Sulawesi. As indentured labourers, they were supposed to be temporary residents in Australia. Their migration was permitted as a rare exemption from the White Australia policy, based on the presumption that as maritime workers they would spend most of their time in the waters that connected Australia and the Dutch East Indies. During the limited time they spent in Australian ports they were to be strictly monitored. Despite these intended restrictions, a number of Indonesians were able to build lives in Australia by renewing their contracts for a period of 20 years or more. By the late 1950s those that remained successfully lobbied to be granted Australian citizenship. The pearl-shell industry, though notorious for its exploitation of labour, was responsible for developing and maintaining a long-term connection between eastern Indonesia and Australia and challenging the isolationism of White Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Between 1906 and 1949, more than 950 slaves reported at the British agencies in Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat, and Sharjah and asked for manumission. Their written statements prove that slavery was an important part of the local socio-economic system and that many slaves had for generations been bound with the same families of owners. The manumission movement was caused mainly by the collapse of the pearl industry in the Gulf in the 1920s and 1930s, but it was the psychological factor rather than the economic one which played the decisive role in slaves coming to a decision to run away from their master. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pinctada fucata Gould 1850 was first commercially cultivated in Japan in the early 1920s. Japan dominated this market until the proliferation of Akoya viral disease (AVD) in 1996. Since that time the Japanese industry has struggled. In 2000, Japanese production of Akoya pearls represented only 13% of the total world market value. A number of investigations into this downturn have concluded that the proliferation of AVD was a result of stress associated with increasing urbanization and industrialization. This relationship between environmental stress and altered immunological activity is well documented in a number of oyster species. The decline in Japanese pearl production has led to interest in Akoya cultivation in Australia. Commercial Akoya pearl oyster ventures are now in operation in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. The development of a robust and lucrative Akoya pearl industry in Australia will rely on the cultivation and maintenance of healthy oysters. Oyster health is associated with immunological status, which can be jeopardized by both stress and disease. This review details the relationship between the oyster immune system, environmental stress and disease outbreaks in the genus Pinctada, with implications for P. fucata and the fledgling Australian industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Broome Shire Council's decision in 2009 to suspend the sister-town relationship because of controversy over Taiji's practice of culling dolphins galvanized Broome's Asian and Asian-Aboriginal community (hereafter referred to as poly-ethnic community) to oppose this move. This, and other examples explored in this paper, attests to the strong connection between these two groups that has shaped a distinctive 'Broome culture'. This paper explores ways in which Japanese working in the pearling industry contributed to the emergence of a Broome culture through their historic ties with Aborigines. Some of these ties are through family lineage; others are through vast interlocking familial and friendship networks in Broome's Asian-Aboriginal community. Recent interviews attest to the enduring nature of these networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The story of the conflict that erupted into street-fighting and riots in Broome in the northwest of Western Australia between workers of Japanese and other Asian backgrounds engaged in the pearl-fishing industry during the lay-up seasons of 1907, 1914 and 1920 highlights the often overlooked reality of multiple ethnicities of Asians engaged in the pearling industry. Reflection on the causes of the riots, the underlying hegemony, and entrenched racism offer valuable lessons in inter-cultural relations in an environment imbued with the fear of difference and the rising importance of Asians in Australia's economic and political environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diamond, colored stone, and pearl businesses have witnessed unprecedented change since the turn of the 21st century. Not only have new markets for gems emerged around the world, but channels of distribution have also changed dramatically as a result of economic forces and political pressures. De Beers abandoned its single-channel seller role, which created-for the first time in over a century-a competitive rough diamond market. Political problems in Madagascar and a ban on gem exports from Myanmar disrupted supply channels for sapphire and ruby. And the proliferation of new sales avenues, through the Internet and TV, has given consumers much more information about gems and forever changed the way they buy them. The use of gems to subsidize bloody conflicts and repressive regimes has moved the trades to become more accountable, as concerns over terrorism and illicit trading have created a new legal environment. At the same time, a new class of consumers who value ethically, socially, and environmentally friendly products are making their demands known in the gemstone business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an analysis and synthesis of historical and archaeological data on pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf. The history of pearling in the region is reviewed, from the earliest possible references to the mid 20th century. Economic data from the 18th–20th centuries CE is analysed in detail, to de fine the economic course of the pearling industry during that time, and assess the impact on human settlement in the region. The archaeological data for pearl fishing are then examined, from the 6th millennium BCE onwards, and compared to the historical evidence. The results of archaeological survey in the Abu Dhabi islands region are then taken as a case study, and changes in settlement patterns are related to the historical trajectory of the pearling industry. It is observed that the regional economy became overwhelmingly dependent on the pearl trade in recent centuries, and was increasingly subject to the demands of the global market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Poteau River, a major tributary of the Arkansas River, flows through the Ouachita Uplands of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The river has been harvested for mussels, historically by the Caddo Indians and recently for the pearl industry. We documented the current distribution and abundance of mussels in the river, compared this with historical distributions and examined whether the river can sustain current levels of commercial harvest. The Poteau River retains a rich mussel fauna of 35 species. However, mussel abundance is much lower than in surrounding rivers. Mean total mussel densities in the largest beds in the river are 3.8 individuals/m². Densities of the two commercially harvested species, Megalonaias nervosa (washboard) and Amblema plicata (threeridge), are only 0.15 and 1.25 individuals/m², respectively. Mussel size distributions indicate very low recent recruitment of both M. nervosa and A. plicata. The majority of M. nervosa exceed the shell height limit of 4 inches established by the state of Oklahoma and, thus, are not protected by this regulation. Our data indicate that the Poteau River cannot sustain commercial mussel harvest. A recently established mussel sanctuary should be retained and further commercial harvest of mussels should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the problem of regulating the use of common resources in pearl culture, with special reference to Tahitian black pearl culture. Section one presents historical evidence on abnormal oyster mortality related to over-exploitation of the lagoon, and describes the negative externality arising from the use of the free common resource. Section two proposes a mathematical model showing why the market equilibrium differs from the economic optimum when pearl farmers share a lagoon. The biological optimum, the economic optimum and the market equilibrium are defined in three different settings: • one pearl farmer in a private lagoon • many pearl farmers not caring about each other's oyster stocks, and • a few farmers taking care of each other's production and stock. Section three discusses different policies to regulate the use of the lagoon for pearl production, including a proposed scheme of transferable quotas sold through periodic auctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of the "Torres Straits Pilot," published on Thursday Island, Queensland from 1887-1942, on the history of Australian frontier and the pearl shell industry. It states that editor F. C. Hodel acted as an agent to the London Missionary Society in Torres Strait, and illustrates on his advertisement in 1899 the pearl-shelling and beche de mer fishing in Australia. It adds that the newspaper has become an important form of information currency in the industry.

The grafting process used for pearl production in pearl oysters triggers a significant haemocyte response which has an influence on the quality of pearls formed. One hundred and ten selected healthy adult Pinctada margaritifera were grafted for pearl production. Beginning two days after grafting, oysters were sacrificed regularly until the 48th day and the pearl-sacs of sampled oysters were sectioned for histological analysis. The level of haemocytes present in the pearl-sacs decreased overtime with the samples from day 2 showing the highest levels. Haemocyte levels also varied between samples from a particular day. The exact cause(s) of varying levels of haemocyte accumulation during pearl-sac development in P. margaritifera is not known. However, it is reasonable to assume that haemocyte production is positively related to the degree of damage caused to host oyster tissues during the grafting procedure. While haemocytes have an important wound healing role in pearl oysters, excessive haemocyte presence may be detrimental to maximizing pearl quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]