MUSCAT: The total quantity of fish landed in the Sultanate reached 302,541 tonnes by the end of October 2018 compared to 250,338 tonnes during the same period of 2017, which is a rise of 20.9 per cent, according to statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Traditional fishing practices in the Sultanate contributed to 299,685 tonnes of fish landings till the end of October 2018, constituting an increase of 20.9 per cent over 247,818 tons in 2017.
The total value of the fish stock was RO 213,126 million in 2018, representing a growth of 15.9 tonnes over RO 183,963 million in 2017.
The Governorate of Al Wusta had the highest fish landing at 95,628 tonnes, followed by the Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah at 73,694 tonnes, and the governorates of North and South Al Batinah at 43,813 tonnes. The quantity of fish landed in the Governorate of Dhofar was 39,806 tonnes, and the quantity in Muscat was 21,321 tonnes. The landed quantity in Governorate of Musandam stood at 25,422 tonnes.
According to fish landing by species, the largest quantity of fish landed by the end of October 2018 comprised small pelagic fishes at 130,523 tonnes, compared to 106,087 tonnes at the end of October 2017, an increase of 23 per cent.
The quantity of large pelagic fish increased by 13.8 tonnes to reach 75,567 tonnes by the end of October compared to 66,429 tonnes by the end of October 2017. The quantity of demersal fish landed reached 68,924 tonnes, an increase of 27.5 tonnes over the end of 2017 when it was 54,046 tonnes.
Meanwhile, there was a decline in the quantity of sharks and rays, lobster and shrimp by 7.7 tonnes, 10.6 tonnes, and 24.8 tonnes, respectively and About 8,728 tonnes of crustaceans and molluscs landing were reported during this period.
Coastal fishing and commercial fishing contributed to about 2,493 tonnes and 364 tonnes of total fish landings, respectively, by the end of October 2018. — ONA
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