As part of the Sultanate of Oman’s celebration of the 51st National Day of the Renaissance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, together with Fisheries Development Oman (FDO) attended the keel-laying ceremony marking the start of construction work on a fleet of tuna fishing vessels for eventual deployment in the Indian Ocean.
The newbuildings, owned by Al Wusta Fisheries Industries (a subsidiary of FDO), will target an annual catch of 20,000 tons of different tuna fish speciies in the first phase. The fleet will enable the Sultanate of Oman get its share of the living aquatic resources in the international waters of the Indian Ocean. The fisheries sector is vital source of national income for the Omani economy, ranked only second to hydrocarbons.
The keel-laying ceremony, which was held in the Zamakona Basin in Bilbao, Kingdom of Spain, was attended by Eng Yaqub bin Khalfan al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources; Nasser bin Sulaiman al Harthy, Chairman of Fisheries Development Oman, and a number of officials of the Spanish shipbuilder
“The Ministry seeks to develop the fisheries sector through its strategic plan within Oman Vision 2040,” said the Under-Secretary. “It also aims to increase the return from increasing fish production and raising its added value through the commercial fishing programme launched in 2018. The programme aims to raise the efficiency and sustainability of the sector, protect natural fisheries from depletion, and provide safe supplies of fish products for local consumption. It also aims to increase private sector investments and attract foreign investments in fisheries industries. The first phase aims to catch 20,000 tons of different tuna fish annually.”
Nasser al Harthy, FDO’s Chairman added: “The Company aims to develop the fisheries sector in the Sultanate of Oman, and increase its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). FDO is implementing a set of projects that will add value and enhance the performance of its subsidiaries. Moreover, building a tuna fishing fleet will contribute to achieving internal sufficiency in tuna besides providing quantities for export and achieving financial sustainability.”
The fleet, which is being built for Al Wusta Fisheries Industries, includes 85 metre-long and 1,800 cubic metre capacity vessels that will be used for catching tuna of various kinds in the Indian Ocean. The tuna fishing vessels, which are designed as per the highest international standards, include fish processing lines with refrigeration of -20 degrees Centigrade and a processing line for high-quality tuna to deliver the products to international markets.
Fisheries Development Oman, owned by the Oman Investment Authority along with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, is developing the marine fishing system in the Sultanate of Oman. FDO is also endeavouring to develop the fisheries sector, which is one of the main pillars within the 2040 Vision, by supporting its marine fleet with specialized vessels equipped with the latest systems and equipment. It is expected that these efforts will contribute to increasing commercial fishing activity and establishing projects that enhance economic diversification efforts.
Al Wusta Fisheries Industries Company is one of the initiatives of the National Programme for Economic Diversification (Tanfeedh). Al Wusta Fisheries Industries Company, in coordination and cooperation with the relevant authorities, also seeks to establish a commercial fishing fleet that can utilise the natural resources of the Omani regional waters and the Indian Ocean, attract investments to the fisheries sector, increase fish production and collect research data.
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