The Omani government continues to prioritise fisheries and aquaculture development. Fishing has been an important source of livelihood for thousands of Omani citizens since ancient times. This sector is among the most important fields of the Omani economy with social significance as well. About 80 per cent of Omanis were employed in this sector before the discovery of oil at the end of the sixties of the last century.
Accordingly, the government and private sectors have, over the past years, developed several fisheries projects, including the farming of a number of important fish species that are in great demand from inside and outside the Sultanate. A few days ago, the first Omani abalone farming project was launched in the Wilayat of Mirbat in Dhofar Governorate, where this type of seafood is very popular in some Asian countries such as Japan and China, as well as various European countries. It is an important meal in hotels and large resorts. This modern project is affiliated with the Oman Aquaculture Company and costs around RO 10 million ($26 million).
Over the past years, the government has introduced a number of improvements to the fisheries sector, so that fishermen can obtain a profitable return from the fishing process, which helps this sector in providing job opportunities for citizens.
The concerned authority recognises that there is an urgent need to improve the economic management of the fisheries sector and to create sustainable job opportunities that are viable for economic growth, because of their importance in adding value. In this context, Oman had engaged the World Bank over the past years to assist in efforts to improve and reform the fisheries sector, and to assist in developing a plan to increase the contribution of this sector to the Omani economy and to develop and implement the 2040 Vision for fisheries and aquaculture. The strategy document for this project for the next phase includes the implementation of the investment aspect and the provision of technical support, in addition to business development and management training.
Today, the fisheries sector is one of the fastest growing food-producing sectors in the world, in light of the steady increase in the world's population. Global forecasts indicate that an additional 40 million tons of aquatic food is needed during 2025 to meet the current per capita consumption due to the importance of fish products as a source of animal protein, and to enhance the productivity of traditional fisheries.
Everyone is aware that the development of fish farming activity in the Sultanate o Oman, in addition to improving the conditions of fishermen and their fishing methods will contribute to diversifying the sources of national income, employing more national labour, and exploiting unused coastal lands to establish fish farming projects that need large quantities of water. Besides, this initiative will help to establish and develop a number of ancillary commercial and economic activities focusing on the processing, sale and exports of fish products.
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