Fisheries Labs set for launch on September 17

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries pursues fish marketing and investment system development in the Sultanate in order to boost up the quality of fish, provide fish products to the consumer and contribute to ensuring food security and desired contribution percentage to the gross domestic product, helping the Sultanate achieve its economic diversification goals.
In this regard, the Ministry has developed a plan to improve the efficiency of the fish marketing system, renovate existing fish markets, enhance the management and operation of fish markets, establish modern markets (wholesale and retail), design an integrated management system, as well as encourage local and foreign fisheries investments.

Statistics show that the Sultanate’s fish production in 2016 amounted to about 280,000 tonnes with a growth rate of 9 per cent compared to 2015. The total production value was estimated at RO 225 million, an increase of (18.7 per cent) compared to the total production value for the year 2015. The total quantities of fish unloaded in local fish markets in the Sultanate amounted to about 128,000 tonnes for the year 2016.
The ministry also worked to regulate marketing procedures and fish markets in the governorates of the Sultanate, most importantly the wholesale markets, due to the fact that they are viewed to be a meeting point for all fishermen and carriers to meet and sell their products. Besides, the buyers from wholesalers in retail markets, owners of companies, restaurants and hotels visit such markets frequently. In addition to the wholesale, the ministry exerted efforts to develop retail markets in the Sultanate’s different governorates and wilayats. — ONA