Over 648.148 tons of fish were landed by artisanal fishing also known as traditional fishing technique by the end of November 2023, an increase from 591,421 tons by the end of November 2022, or 9.6 percent, according to the statistics issued by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The total value of fish resources by the end of November 2023 amounted to about RO 387m and 453,000 Omani riyals, and the amount landed in commercial fishing by the same period amounted to 46,287 tons, while the amount landed in coastal fishing reached 5,063 tons, the report further suggested.
“Oman’s fish and fish products are of great demand across the world and while the countries like Chile, Peru, Morocco and Mauritania reported a decline in the total catch, Oman sustained the catch and the value increased benefiting the revenue generated through the advantage,” says Mohammed Ameen, Managing Director of Sea pride LLC, the leading Omani fish and fish products exporter to nearly 50 countries across the world.
“Similarly, the Omani fishmeal and fish oil occupy a very prominent role in the global fisheries market and there is a steady demand for the same which makes the export of these products a flourishing one,” adds Mohammed
Oman origin fish products including fresh chilled fish, frozen fish, value added fish products, fish meal and fish oil are exported to 40 countries including Europe, US, and Far East, besides Middle East on a regular basis, and is a major contributor to Oman’s national economy.
The report elaborates that Al Wusta Governorate, with a total quantity of 249,666 tons topped the list of governorates with highest catch followed by South Al Sharqiyah Governorate with 197,926 tons, Dhofar with 70,364 tons, and North Al Batinah and South Al Batinah with 67,110 tons.
The amount of fish landed by artisanal fishing in Musandam Governorate reached 35,214 tons by the end of November 2023, and 27,869 tons in Muscat Governorate.
The small pelagic fish has been ranked the largest quantity of fish landed by artisanal fishing, as the quantity reached about 368,613 tons by the end of the same period while the large pelagic fish landed by artisanal fishing reached 151,42 tons, and the amount of demersal fish reached 103,000 tons, according to the report.
The total quantity of crustaceans landed by artisanal fishing amounted to 5,786 tons while crustaceans and mollusks landed by artisanal fishing stood at 15,607 tons were landed, and the quantity of other fish stood at 4,099 tons, the report suggested.
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