Practical path to food security and good jobs

Stand on our coast at sunrise and you see why this story matters. The sea is generous, but it is not limitless. Aquaculture — farming fish and shellfish in controlled conditions — lets us take pressure off wild stocks while still feeding families and building new businesses. It is simple in idea and powerful in impact: clean water, healthy seed, good feed, careful monitoring and a cold chain that keeps quality intact from farm to table.
Over the past year, Oman’s farms produced about 5,500 tonnes of seafood, worth more than RO 12.5 million. This year, the pipeline has grown, with 22 projects under way and investment commitments exceeding RO 1 billion. These are not abstract numbers. They mean new hatcheries, ponds, cages, laboratories, ice plants and transport routes. They mean technicians with stable work, coastal SMEs supplying services and young Omanis choosing a career that keeps them close to home.
Why should the public care? Because aquaculture answers three national needs at once. First, food security. We get reliable, high-quality protein at stable prices, even when global markets are volatile. Second, diversification. We create non-oil value and steady jobs along the coast and inland. Third, sustainability. We protect wild fisheries by producing more in controlled settings with health and environmental standards.
To make this sector truly work, we should keep the approach practical and human. The first step is time. Investors can manage risk, but they struggle with delay. A single, digital licensing lane with clear timelines would help projects move from plan to production faster. When government publishes the target days for each step — and meets them — confidence rises and costs fall.
The second step is place. We should map and set aside suitable sea areas and corridors for land-based farms that clean and reuse water. This avoids conflict, protects the environment and gives operators certainty. Good sites mean healthier stock, lower mortality and better yields.
The third step is value. A tonne that leaves the farm whole and on ice earns one price. The same tonne, portioned, quick-frozen, branded and traceable earns more. Processing near farms, strong cold storage and reliable refrigerated transport through Salalah and Al Duqm can lift incomes without lifting catch. A simple national quality mark — “Seafood Oman” — backed by testing and QR codes would tell buyers exactly what they are getting and where it came from.

The fourth step is know-how. Aquaculture is a craft that blends science and routine. We need hands-on training in hatchery work, feeding schedules, water testing and disease prevention. Partnerships with universities and equipment suppliers can deliver short courses that lead straight to jobs. When farms meet clear biosecurity standards, insurers can offer lower premiums. Good practice then becomes good business.
The fifth step is cost. Feed and energy can strain margins. Encouraging local feed partnerships, exploring alternative inputs such as seaweed-based proteins and supporting clean energy for cold rooms and ice plants will make our producers more resilient. These are sensible measures that pay back in lower operating costs and stronger sustainability credentials.
None of this ignores risk. Disease episodes can spread quickly if rules are not followed. Skills gaps can slow new projects. International markets can change. But these risks are manageable with steady discipline: regular testing, transparent reporting, clear movement controls and honest communication between authorities and operators. When the rules are fair and predictable, most people follow them.
Aquaculture is not a silver bullet. It is a solid tool that fits our geography, our labour market and our economic goals. It keeps more value inside Oman. It offers real careers for young people who want technical work tied to the sea. It lets us present a national product with pride: Omani abalone raised to a premium standard, shrimp grown responsibly, finfish handled with care and freshwater species farmed in efficient, land-based systems.
Oman Vision 2040 asks us to build sectors that are competitive, sustainable and rooted in our strengths. Aquaculture meets that test. The sea has given us the conditions. The market is opening the door. If we keep permits moving, map sites sensibly, add value close to farms, train our people well and manage costs smartly, this industry will stand on its own feet and carry our name with confidence — at home and abroad.
This is a practical path. It is good for household budgets, good for the environment and good for work and dignity in our coastal towns. Most of all, it is ours to deliver.