The Trochus resource in New Caledonia

N e w Caledonia, which is surrounded by one of the largest lagoons in the world, is a good reservoir of the Pacific species of trochus (Trochus niloticus). The shell of this large marine gastropod yields one of the thickest, most beautiful mother-of-pearls available on the world market. Fig. 1 shows fluctuations in trochus shell exports since 1907. The curve reflects the vulnerability of this stock, which is relatively easy to harvest. A trochus stock assessment was implemented in 1982 by the Fisheries Service.