No More Pearls in Makassar www.fppm.org, 2003-03-27
Rapid developments that have been occurring in Bau-Bau (Southeast Sulawesi) have rather less beneficial effects for the environmental conservation of the region. Due to damages such as polluted water, pearl cultivation in the area is no longer productive. PT Tiara Indopearl, which has been operating since 1988, had to leave Makassar due to its high-level environmental damages and relocated to Labuan Bajo, West Flores (Province of East Nusa Tenggara). The company claimed that pearl production has declined 50 percent from 6 kilograms per harvest to 3 kilograms per harvest.