When COVID-19 struck, cruise ship traffic in the Kingdom of Tonga dropped, depriving Tongan mabé pearl farmers of their primary market. Sales dropped nearly to zero. The Ministry of Fisheries, with support from the World Bank through their Halafononga Ki Ha Ngatai Tu’uloa -Pathway to Sustainable Oceans (Tonga) Project, sought out new markets for pearl vendors. Now, previously struggling pearl farmers are excited to benefit from this new lifeline
