Oman holds the highest fish consumption rate per capita in the world

@JmObserver -

The Sultanate of Oman holds the highest fish consumption per capita in the world with 27 kilogrammes annually, according to the Fisheries Development Oman — a subsidiary of Oman Investment Authority. Meanwhile, the average fish consumption per capita worldwide is only 17 kilogrammes.

Earlier this year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations reported that UAE, Qatar, Egypt and the Sultanate of Oman are among the highest fish consumers in the region. “All countries of the Near East and North Africa have access to marine areas, and thus fish and marine products constitute a major source of livelihood and nutrition in the region”, the report added.

Aquatic food has always been an important commodity in the Sultanate of Oman. The country has a long coastline, the vast majority faces the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The main economic activity in the coastal areas is fishing which provides and important supply of fish to local communities, urban cities and for the export markets. The Sultanate of Oman is one of the largest fish producers in the region and a net exporter of fish and fish products.

The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) reported that in 2020, the total quantity of fish landed in the Sultanate of Oman reached 840, 378 tonnes, an increase of 44.8 per cent compared to 2019. Fish exports rose to more than 300,000 tonnes, a growth rate of 47.3 per cent, with a total value estimated at RO 114.25 million in 2020.

As for fish exports, 22.2 per cent of Oman’s fish are exported to GCC countries, 0.5 per cent to European countries, 10.2 per cent to the US, and 67.1 per cent to other countries. The UAE is the top importer of Oman’s fish in the region with 37,952 tonnes or 56.8 per cent. Saudi Arabia followed as second top importer of Oman fish with 19,969 tonnes or 29.9 per cent in 2020.

Fisheries Development of Oman (FDO) was established as a joint commitment between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, and Oman Investment Authority (OIA) to develop a sustainable commercial aquaculture and fishing sector in the Sultanate of Oman.