Recent developments in Polynesia have shown the potential for major export earnings from cultured black pearl and mother-of-pearl shell industries. This has aroused considerable interest because small remote Pacific island nations (e.g. Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Fiji) have limited opportunities for export trade.

The blacklip oyster pearl, Pinctata margaritifera, has a wide geographical distribution and flourishes in atoll lagoons. However, up to the mid-1900s, natural stocks of pearl oysters were seriously depleted and many Pacific island countries such as Kiribati and the Solomon Islands now cannot support an industry.

In French Polynesia, black pearls have become a major export earner in recent years with about 600 kg exported in 1990 worth US$36.5 million. The Cook Islands are also benefiting from black pearls and Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Fiji are all keen to rehabilitate their wild pearl oysters so they are able to sustain economically viable pearl culture operations.