Oman

Sunan al Bahr committees to boost fisheries sector

 
The fisheries sector is set to get a boost through committees formed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR). Under the plan, the Sunan al Bahr committees will have presence in all the coastal areas.

The ministry issued a special regulation for the smooth functioning of the committees, as a Ministerial Resolution (24/2000) issued the first regulation concerning Sunan al Bahr in 2000 and some amendments were made in 2002.

This regulation worked to organise the work of these the committees in terms of their formation at the level of the states of the coastal governorates, their tasks, terms and duration of membership, procedures for selecting members, cases of membership falling out, and conditions for vacancies.

The committees having four-year-term have 256 members with 136 fishermen.

The nature of the committees are consultative and complementary to manage the fisheries sector with close co-ordination between the ministry, fishermen, and representatives.

The tasks and functions of the committee include submission of proposals and recommendations related to the development of fisheries in a way that it achieves sustainable development and ensures the maximum benefit from fish resources.

It aims to resolve disputes and conflicts between fishermen with regard to use of fishing equipment, methods, sites and seasons within the framework of the laws and customs without prejudice to the provisions of the Marine Fishing Law, its executive regulations and the decisions issued in implementation of the provisions of the law.