When COVID-19 struck, cruise ship traffic in the Kingdom of Tonga dropped, depriving Tongan mabĂ© 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 Tuâuloa -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
