Production of Designer Mabe Pearls in the Black-lipped Pearl Oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, and the Winged Pearl Oyster, Pteria penguin, from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

The black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, is sporadically distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, where they have been traditionally used for food, ornaments, jewelry, tools, and more recently for the production of black pearls (Lane et al. 2003). During the past two decades, black pearl farming programs have been initiated by several nations and are now at various levels of productio