FDO’s RO 16 million aquaculture project announces first harvest
Published: 02:05 PM,May 31,2023 | EDITED : 06:05 PM,May 31,2023
Fisheries Development Oman (FDO) has announced the first harvest of Oriental Shrimp Aquaculture LLC, a subsidiary of the FDO group, from the 200-hectare Shrimp Aquaculture Project at Khuweimah, Jalaan Bani Bu Ali, in South al Sharqiyah Governorate.
With an investment value of around RO 16 million (over $41 million), the project represents FDO Group’s ongoing promotion of aquaculture as a key pillar to diversifying the national economy beyond the hydrocarbon sector. It also reflects the FDO Group’s progress in terms of leveraging Oman’s favorable economical, geographical, and logistical conditions to become a regional leader in the aquaculture and fisheries sector.
The farm is growing Pacific White Shrimp, (Litopenaeus vannamei), using specific pathogen free brood stocks imported from the United States. The entire production operation is carried in a highly bio-secure and hygienic environment without the use of drugs, antibiotics, or any chemicals of public health concern.
Key components of the project include 126 grow out ponds for Pacific White Shrimp, a nursery unit with 48 ponds, post larval unit, pre-processing unit, and support infrastructure.
With a operation capacity 4000 tonnes annually, the Khuweimah farm supports the FDO Group’s mission to lead the development of a sustainable and competitive aquaculture sector in Oman that promotes a meaningful contribution to wealth creation, food security needs, and employment generation in Oman, through the diversification of production systems that produce safe, nutritious and affordable aquaculture produce, while ensuring the environmental continuity required for securing its future growth.
With an investment value of around RO 16 million (over $41 million), the project represents FDO Group’s ongoing promotion of aquaculture as a key pillar to diversifying the national economy beyond the hydrocarbon sector. It also reflects the FDO Group’s progress in terms of leveraging Oman’s favorable economical, geographical, and logistical conditions to become a regional leader in the aquaculture and fisheries sector.
The farm is growing Pacific White Shrimp, (Litopenaeus vannamei), using specific pathogen free brood stocks imported from the United States. The entire production operation is carried in a highly bio-secure and hygienic environment without the use of drugs, antibiotics, or any chemicals of public health concern.
Key components of the project include 126 grow out ponds for Pacific White Shrimp, a nursery unit with 48 ponds, post larval unit, pre-processing unit, and support infrastructure.
With a operation capacity 4000 tonnes annually, the Khuweimah farm supports the FDO Group’s mission to lead the development of a sustainable and competitive aquaculture sector in Oman that promotes a meaningful contribution to wealth creation, food security needs, and employment generation in Oman, through the diversification of production systems that produce safe, nutritious and affordable aquaculture produce, while ensuring the environmental continuity required for securing its future growth.