EPISODE 7 –
Story: Willie Creek Pearls – Conservation, Surviving and Thriving
Episode: 7
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 25th of September
Trevor visits the festival of the Pearl, Shinju Matsuri and learns about sustainability in the pearl culturing industry.
- If you’re visiting Broome in late-August the Festival of the Pearl, Shinju Matsuri is a must!
- The festival originally started as a community-based festival and has been running for 52 years, attracting visitors from across Australia.
- Trevor checks out one of the highlights of the festival; the annual Pearl Meat Cook Off.
- Pearl meat is not cheap and can sell for $160 per kg, with this value-added element of production the industry is more sustainable.
- Willie Creek Pearls are collaborating with a company called Marine Biomedical, which are using shells to create bone scaffolding material for orthopaedic surgery.
- Willie Creek Pearls have also collaborated with the recently passed Olivia Newton John, sending 30% of profits from the ‘Olivia Newton John pendant’ to the Olivia Newton John Foundation to find a cure for cancer.
- Willie Creek Pearls is carefully managed to ensure it remains as one of the world’s most sustainable pearl culturing companies.
- They have also been recognised with MSC certification, meaning the company produces no waste of product.
For more information:
www.williecreekpearls.com.au
