Mohammed Alsalais, a pearl diver and field researcher for the Bahrain Institute of Pearls and Precious Stones (DANAT), believes the Gulf nation's pearl collecting heritage is not just a chapter in history – it is an important part of its cultural identity. "I always say: Pearls are in the blood of the people of Bahrain," Mohammed Alslais told UN News in an exclusive interview with UN News in Bahrain's capital, Manama. The families who came to Bahrain from the Arabian Sea and the Iranian coast were almost all divers." Mohammed Alslais is extremely passionate about preserving and reviving this ancient tradition. He says that many families in the Gulf countries had at least one member who was either a pearl diver himself or was associated with the pearl industry. Bahrain's economy flourished for thousands of years through pearl harvesting in the Persian Gulf. But in the 1930s, Japan mastered the art of making cultured pearls, which pushed this industry, which had reached the peak of prosperity in the 20th century, into a catastrophic decline. The tradition of pearl collecting in Bahrain, says Mohammed Alslais "Most Bahraini traditions are linked to the pearl diving industry. For example, pearl diving songs. Pearl The folklore of diving has been passed down for generations. We still sing the same songs that were sung on boats in olden times to boost morale."Adnan Ali Juveed, who has been diving for decades, retired just three years ago. “Pearl collecting, apart from being a livelihood, is also good for the body,” he said. “There are special areas for diving in Bahrain.” “In ancient times, our ancestors would go diving at specific times on specific days of the year. Which was usually between April and July. Now, due to advances in exploration techniques, we can dive at any time of the year, and Our children will carry it forward." Known as the "Pearling Path", Bahrain's historic pearling sites are recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The site is a testament to the tradition of pearl gathering and the wealth it generated in the Gulf region over the millennia. According to UNESCO, the region includes 17 buildings in the city of Murharraq, three coastal oyster beds, a stretch of coastline and the island of Murharraq. It includes the Qal'at Bu Mahir fort at the southern tip, from where boats used to sail for the oyster beds. Shops, warehouses, a mosque and houses of prosperous merchants are located in this area. According to UNESCO, the site is the only complete example of the tradition of pearl culture and the wealth generated during the period of the Gulf economy, which was dominated by trade from the 2nd century until Japan developed artificial pearls. It also presents an excellent example of traditional use of water and co-existence of humans with the environment. This gave shape to the island's social system, cultural identity and economy. Mohammed Alsalais recalls, "When I take tourists there, I always ask them to whom they would like to take this pearl. When their answer is, 'For my mother,' the size of the pearl found there suddenly seems much bigger." He explains, "I am one of those people who started pearl diving without any guidance from their parents or family. fall in love The generation before us were not allowed to dive at a young age, because after the discovery of oil, all jobs had shifted to the oil industry." Pearl collecting gets a new lease of life According to Mohammed Alslais, when Bahraini authorities began issuing pearl diving licenses in 2017, many people who had no previous knowledge of it joined the tradition. Now, seven years later, Many people of Bahrain have reconnected with this heritage."We, with our own initiative, created a new system. We used diving techniques and the sale of pearls. The method has also changed. Inspired by this new system developed by the new generation, now more than 1,000 divers are registered and do pearl diving regularly, which is earning them income. Khalid Salman, who has been diving since the 1970s, says that although diving continues even today, but The old methods have been changed." Nowadays, due to technological advances, divers are able to extract vast quantities of pearls by staying under water for long periods of time. Earlier, a diver could stay under water for four minutes, but now a scuba diver can Can stay under water for hours or more." Regarding the low prices of pearls, Salman says, "Many people do not sell the pearls they extract; they store them until prices rise, and when that time comes, sell them to Bahraini traders." Some pearls are used in local industries. while others are sold outside Bahrain. He also explains that there are three types of pearls: synthetic, cultured, and natural. "With experience and modern equipment it is possible to distinguish between these types," he said. Impact on Shipbuilding The collapse of the pearl industry has also affected Bahrain's shipbuilding industry. Abdullah, who has been building wooden ships and boats for more than 35 years, says: "Bahrain is famous for its shipbuilding industry. This was an integral part of pearl collecting." "There are many types of ships, varying in design But now due to declining demand, smaller ships are being used for pearl collection. Wood for shipbuilding is imported from Africa and Singapore, and "a ship lasts for 100 years. Technology and sustainability Mohammed Alslais admits that new technologies such as scuba diving are leading to degradation of oyster beds, but he says, "Scuba diving allows you to stay under water for a limited period of time. You can only dive three times a day, because of decompression sickness and other risks." He is optimistic about the future, saying, "If God keeps me healthy, I will continue pearl diving. This gives me great satisfaction."
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