World Bank’s Pathway to Sustainable Oceans (Tonga) Project

Tonga’s Mabé Ocean Pearls – New markets open new horizons

It took them over an hour to find an escape route.

“When we came out, I cried,” said Ana. Their buildings were destroyed, and their oyster lines – where they grow mabé pearls – were gone.

“I sat down and cried, then I called my family to help us to rebuild it again.”

Sadly, nature wasn’t yet done with them. In 2020, Cyclone Harold destroyed their lines again. They rebuilt their pearl farm – again – but now they had nobody to sell to. The COVID-19 pandemic ended tourist traffic to their boutique day resort.