Aquaculture projects to fuel fisheries sector growth in Oman

Some Omani businesses aspire to move forward with the development of the aquaculture sector in the Sultanate of Oman during the coming period by increasing the number of projects serving this sector and working to establish large Omani joint-stock companies, whether through Omani or GCC investors.
Omani aquaculture projects have entered a stage of transformation from limited-scale ventures into a strategic industry. Production figures for 2025 indicate that aquaculture output reached approximately 9,240 tonnes, which represents a promising beginning. Many additional projects are currently in the pipeline as a result of the support and encouragement provided by the relevant authorities to companies operating in this sector. This expansion is expected to significantly increase the country’s fish production capacity.
The objective is to reach 252,000 tonnes of fishery products by 2030. Achieving this target requires addressing a number of forthcoming challenges, including biosecurity, the provision of feed and other production inputs, the adoption of modern technologies, the development of skilled human resources and the resolution of marketing, supply-chain and export-related challenges.
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources began implementing a new project to manufacture and develop feed for farmed shrimp in Oman, using locally available raw materials and resources derived from the country's natural environment, in cooperation with a private-sector company operating in this field.
The new project aims to localise the fish-feed industry in Oman and increase the contribution of aquaculture to the national economy. It will also provide alternatives to costly imported raw materials and imported feeds by incorporating locally available resources into fish-feed formulations. This initiative opens the door for private-sector companies to further develop the shrimp-feed industry in particular and the fish-feed industry in general in Oman.
Over the past period, Oman's aquaculture sector has witnessed rapid growth, driven by expanding investments and increased production capacity as part of the objectives of the blue economy.
Total investment in existing aquaculture projects reached approximately RO 349 million by the end of 2025. This reflects growing investor confidence in the sector and its potential to expand production capacity in shrimp, marine fish, oysters, abalone, as well as seaweed and algae, as part of an effort to establish an integrated production system.
Consequently, the aquaculture sector is expected to become an advanced model of a promising industry driven by growing investment and is likely to emerge as one of the important contributors to the national economy during the coming phase.
This is gradually driving the sector towards the establishment of an integrated food and investment industry covering shrimp, marine fish and other aquatic products, while also creating greater employment opportunities for Omanis.
The importance of these projects also lies in establishing an integrated value chain encompassing hatcheries, feed production, veterinary medicines, packaging, freezing, transportation and exports. Developing such an integrated chain would reduce dependence on imported inputs, enhance local value creation and improve the competitiveness of Omani aquaculture products in domestic and international markets.
Oman's extensive coastline and diverse marine environments provide favourable conditions for selecting suitable sites for aquaculture projects. They also create significant opportunities for accessing international markets, where demand for aquaculture products continues to grow in the world. Therefore, it represents an important opportunity to transform the country's marine resources into a sustainable source of food, investment, employment, exports and economic diversification. With appropriate investment and technology, aquaculture can become one of the key pillars of Oman's emerging blue economy.