Hopes high for Bahrain’s bid to revive old natural pearl industry

TDT | Manama                          

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Reported by Zahra Ayaz

Natural pearls are among the most ethically and sustainably produced luxury gems. The traditional pearl business, which was once the foundation of Bahrain’s economy, is being worked on again.

For millennia, Bahrainis have been free diving to collect pearl oysters from the ocean floor. According to reports, the majority of families were traders, drivers, drillers, and dealers in the pearl trade prior to the discovery of oil.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Layal Bushehri, DANAT Marketing and Communication Manager, said: “The demand has grown a little in recent years, particularly for natural pearls from Bahrain, and it has become more popular, more in style, especially for young people, so we have noticed a rise in comparison to the previous five years.

“The current data gathered by project scientists seeks to evaluate the status of the pearl oyster beds by analysing pearl oyster density and abundance as well as changes in population size structure.

“According to a survey that our organisation, DANAT, conducted with the Supreme Council for the Environment, preliminary findings from a temporal comparison between 2012 and 2021 indicate that there will not be a depletion of pearl oyster beds.”

The majority of Bahrain’s economies were dependent on the pearl industry in the 1920s and 1930s, so every citizen is descended from the industry and they have inherited that from their great grandfathers.

That is why it will always be a part of their culture, Bushehri pointed out. As a result, she believes that people in Bahrain are fairly educated. Meanwhile, a pearl shop owner who does not want to be identified said: “The art of extracting pearls and the professionals associated with its promotion and trade are seen less these days.

Drastic measures need to be taken to revive pearling and its trade. “Pearl was immense for Bahrain, and the economy used to benefit from it. One would walk into the souq and find the vibrant marketplace and traders would eagerly show off their latest pearl ornaments to lure customers. That passion is still there but not every customer would want to buy it.

“Youngsters are unaware about the role played by pearl drivers and traders, they have to learn about the importance of pearls in the development of Bahrain. The Kingdom still has a good reputation for selling good quality pearls, we still have the expertise and the people who are needed to take this industry forward and that itself is a big bonus for our country.”