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4. Shells

Marine Products 

Marine products commonly used in creative and cultural products in Pacific Island and territories

  1.  Black lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera
  2. Trochus, Trochus niloticus
  3. Yellow sea-snail shell, Orobophana pacifica
  4. Coral
  5. Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea
  6. Small giant clam, Tridacna derasa
  7. Giant clam, Tridacna squamosa
  8. Giant clam, Tridacna gigas
  9. Triton’s trumpet, C harpmoa tritonis
  10. Dolphins
  11. Porpoises
  12. Whalebone, teeth

Shells are commonly used for adornment- jewellery, costumes and home decor. These shells are not listed in CITES but throughout most Pacific Islands are still monitored in terms of their movement, particularly for commercial trade.

Black lipped oyster

Trochus

Thorny Oyster Shell

Yellow sea-snail shell
English Name: Black lipped oyster

Scientifc Name: Pinctada margaritifera

Indeginous Name: Parau (Cook Islands); Civa (Fiji); Tifa (Samoa); Parau (Tahiti Nui/ French Polynesia)

 English Name: Trochus

Scientifc Name: Trochus niloticus

Indeginous Name: Torōkati (Cook Islands) sici (Fiji), torōkati parau (Tahit Nui/French

General Information: Trochus shell are often used in jewellery in Pacific countries, are permitted for commercial and personal use.

  English Name: Thorny oyster shell

Scientifc Name: Spondylus

 

 English Name: Yellow sea-snail shell

Scientifc Name: Orobophana pacifica

Indeginous Name: Pūpū

General information: 

Pūpū is native to Cook Islands and particularly to Mangaia in the Southern group. It is widely used for ‘ei (necklaces) but is currently listed as locally endangered.  This shell is used predominantly in Cook Islands, Tahiti and Niue.
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