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Muscat, August 13
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, represented by the General Directorate for Fishery Resources Development, has unveiled a plan to strengthen artisanal fishing in Oman.
According to the ministry, the program is part of a five-year plan to develop the fisheries sector and aims to empower artisanal fishermen by improving their production and marketing capabilities. In addition to improving their skills, it also increases fish production and local supply, and improves the income of artisanal fishermen.
The program will equip fishermen with modern fishing equipment, devices and techniques such as new fishing boats, fish finding devices, GPS devices, electric winches, boat engines and refrigerators for preserving fish. The program will also include training to enable fishermen to use the new equipment and techniques.
According to preliminary statistics from the National Center for Statistics and Information, artisanal fishing accounted for 88% of the total catch as of March 2024. In addition, the amount of fish caught by artisanal means reached 193,054 tons, an increase of 11% over the same period in 2023.
As of March 2024, the total value of fish caught in Oman through all means reached 147.308 million riyals.
Fisheries and aquaculture are identified as key components of Oman’s economic diversification under Vision 2040.
According to the Oxford Business Group, the fisheries sector was valued at 292 million riyals in 2021 and is expected to create 8,500 direct jobs and attract investments worth 450 million riyals by 2025. In addition, the sector plays a vital role in strengthening Oman’s food security, another pillar of Vision 2040.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources signed agreements for fisheries food security projects worth more than 60 million riyals in 2023. These include fish development projects, shrimp farming projects in South Al Sharqiya, and fish farming plans in Musandam.
Furthermore, the ministry revealed that by the end of 2023, the number of fish processing plants in the Sultanate of Oman will reach 114.
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