Abstract

According to one general implementation , a method to produce free pearls in abalone includes introducing CO2 as saturated gas into water within a water tank that has a capacity of 50 to 150 liters , after waiting for a period of about 15 minutes , introducing one or more abalone into the tank containing the water and the CO2, after waiting for a period of at least 10 minutes but not over 15 minutes, during which the abalone achieve a state of complete relaxation, implanting a nucleus in a graft channel in a visceral mass of the abalone, inserting a piece of mantle, with a nacre secreting face of the mantle placed towards the nucleus, in the graft channel , obtained from the grafted abalone itself or from a donor specimen, closing the graft channel using needle and thread, providing for an initial recovery of the abalone in another tank with seawater and circulating air for 15 to 20 minutes, providing for a final recovery of the abalone in the tank with circulating seawater and abundant aeration for a period of time between 24 to 48 hours, and obtaining the pearls from the abalone. Various implementations may include one or more of the following features . For example , the abalone relaxation may occur by exposure to the CO2 present in the water tank. Implanting a nucleus in a graft channel in the visceral mass of the may include identifying the visceral mass in a dorsal - ventral axis of the abalone, opening a graft channel in the identified dorsal - ventral axis of the visceral mass of the abalone, and implanting the nucleus in the graft channel by a grafter, supported over its shell on a graft table, and moving the mantle until the visceral mass area is identified. Opening the graft channel may include preparing an incision using sterile material, and preparing a graft channel opening at least 5 millimeters ( mm ) and up to 5 millimeters (mm) long using a graft spatula. The graft channel opening may be made in a dorsal orientation of the visceral mass or in a ventral orientation of the visceral mass of the abalone. The implanted nucleus may be 5 to 10 mm in diameter. The shape of the nucleus may be spherical, circular or oval. The piece of mantle may be between 0.15 cm² and 0.5 cm². The pearl may be obtained after a period between 18 to 24 months. The thread may be number 4/0 HR35 ( GLICOSORB ) of polyglycolic acid. The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawing and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims .