Warming Mediterranean Reboots Italy’s Oyster Farming with Cultivated Pearls

Pearls may be cultivated in European seas for the first time as Italian oyster farmers seize an opportunity provided by the warming Mediterranean. Pinctada radiata, native to the Red Sea, have been spotted proliferating off Italy's north-western coast, leading to potential new business ventures in pearl farming.

Italian oyster farmers are eyeing a novel business opportunity as the warming Mediterranean Sea becomes a new habitat for pearl oysters. The Pinctada radiata species, native to the Red Sea, was first identified in the Gulf of Poets in late 2023 and has since proliferated in the traditionally cooler waters.

Paolo Varrella, head of a local cooperative, revealed that they are consulting with Mexican pearl oyster farmers to refine their production techniques. The species, which had been reported intermittently around Sicily since the 1970s, has seen a northward migration, thriving in the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas due to rising sea temperatures.

While the warming waters present new business prospects, they also pose environmental risks. The Mediterranean is heating up faster than the global average, leading to the proliferation of invasive species and extreme weather events. Nevertheless, Italian farmers are optimistic about the lucrative potential of an 11 billion dollar global pearl market.

(With inputs from agencies.)