Since the early 1960's wild oysters have been harvested from the sea by fishing vessels for round and half pearl production.

To produce a cultivated pearl, a "seeding" technician operates on young oysters, implanting a 'mother-of-pearl' nucleus made from fresh-water mussels.

Seeded/grafted wild oysters are contained in net panels and held on ocean borne longlines, until it is time to harvest the cultivated pearls.

Pearl oysters held inside panels are cleaned of biofouling, using a cleaning machine to promote water circulation and thus the supply of phytoplankton food to each oyster.

The pearl crop is harvested approximately 2 years later.