Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) has received the green light to expand the country's aquaculture sector through 12 projects valued at OMR 160 million (EUR 379.01 million / USD 415.60 million).
In an exclusive interview with the newspaper Muscat Daily, Dr. Issa bin Mohammed al Farsi, Director of Aquaculture Development at MAFWR, spoke about aquaculture projects and Oman. In it, Farsi pointed out the importance of fish farming or aquaculture as a growth sector both socially and economically. On the one hand, because of its capacity to produce food. On the other hand, because of its potential for an approximate annual growth of 9%.
Furthermore, Farsi shared interesting facts and figures about the country and the sector. As Farsi explained, "total fish farming production in Oman in 2022 reached 3,469 tons, with an estimated value of Rs. 7.33 million, which was an increase of 90% over 2021." So, the panorama seems bright.
As Farsi told Muscat Daily, the 12 aquaculture projects are approved and on track to start the set-up process. Among these are three in Quriyat. A first indoor salmon farming project worth Rs 71 million with a capacity of 20,000 tons. A second tuna fattening project worth Rs 1.8 million in Al Hajir and finally a third project by Taj al Bahr Company worth Rs. 1.6 million in the Ras Abu Dawood area of Quriyat that will produce 1,000 tons of kofer fish.
However, there are also projects in other areas of the country. Fasir told the media that they include another project to produce 10,000 tons of sea bass and kofer in the Seeb wilayat at a cost of OMR 30 million (EUR 71.10 million/ USD 77.92 million). Also, among the project details mentioned, there is another project to produce fish in the wilayat of Sur at a cost of OMR 32 (EUR 75.84 million /USD 83.11 million). Finally, the last one reported would be to produce Omani abalone in the wilayat of Mirbat at a cost of OMR 1.9 million (EUR 4.50 million/ USD 4.93 million).
