A professional Bahraini pearl diver says the kingdom is taking a more sustainable approach to renewing its cultural deep water traditions and attracting a more diverse enthusiasm to the sector.
Field researcher Mohamed Alslaise also believes that younger people are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about pearling, helping to preserve one of the nation’s most precious pastimes.
He explained that when registered pearl-diving licences were opened to the public in 2017, they attracted many people with little or no experience, often approaching it more as a hobby than a profession.
“There were a lot of people signing up to become pearl divers, but many lacked the professional experience needed to dive,” he said.
“What we are seeing now is an effort to reduce the number of licence holders – not to exclude anyone, but to ensure that those with the right expertise can properly conduct research or make a living from it. This way the system becomes more organised.”
In 2017, Bahrain lifted a freeze on pearl diving licences and introduced a new system aimed at reviving the industry.
The freeze had originally been imposed to protect the kingdom’s oyster beds from being plundered.
According to a GDN report from December 2017, 1,471 licences were issued following the policy change, bringing the total number of registered divers to around 3,500.
“Now we have a little over 1,000 registered divers who dive regularly and are able to earn an income from the craft, making the system more sustainable,” Mr Alslaise said, adding that the pearling business across the Gulf has seen significant growth in recent years.
“I now see so many Bahraini women who genuinely care about having Bahraini pearls incorporated into their jewellery, something I would not have seen 10 years ago.”
He added that, in the past, only around five major jewellers worked with pearls, whereas today the number of stores has grown so much that he could not even count them!
Mr Alslaise, who has been diving since 2006, emphasised how rare pearls are, noting that many people do not fully appreciate the effort required to find a large one.
“In an entire year, you would be lucky to find a 6mm or 7mm sized pearl,” he said, adding that the market demand can also influence pearl prices in unexpected ways.
“Over the past two years, the demand for 1.5mm pearls has surged, driving up their value.”
He also highlighted the extraordinary craftsmanship behind certain pearl jewellery pieces, some of which can take years to complete, as each pearl must be perfectly matched in shape, colour and size.
“Many pieces require 20 to 50 years to finish,” he added.
A positive development, he enthused, was the growing knowledge of young people about oyster shucking and the wider pearl-diving industry.
“I’m seeing a new generation of pearl thinkers,” he said, noting that during lectures he often hosts, students not only impress him with their knowledge but sometimes even teach him new things.
Addressing concerns about declining oyster beds, he explained that some beds were enormous – larger than the entire size of Bahrain.
“They are absolutely massive, and no matter how experienced you are, it can be very difficult to return to the exact same spot because the beds are always shifting,” he said.
“Pearl diving is in our blood as Bahrainis and, beyond being a profession, it will always hold a deep cultural significance for us.”
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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