A societal programme for the production of cultured pearls by the local community, jointly with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, in eight coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala was initiated with a view to promoting commercial marine pearl culture technology. In this pilot project, the CMFRI will produce adequate number of spats and implanted pearl oysters and supply them to the farmers regularly and provide technical assistance for growing the oysters in the on-shore facilities. Therefore, technology transfer will take place in a phased manner. About 50 families will derive benefit out of this pilot scheme. After successful demonstration, this programme will be extended to other coastal areas.