Overview
Oman’s fisheries sector benefits from an extensive coastline of over 3,000 kilometres, diverse marine ecosystems, and a long tradition of fishing. The sector is a priority under Vision 2040 as a source of food security, employment, and non-oil export revenue. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth, and Water Resources oversees sector regulation and development. Aquaculture is being rapidly developed as a complement to traditional capture fisheries, with significant government support and investment incentives. Investment opportunities exist across the value chain from harvesting and aquaculture production to processing, cold chain logistics, and export marketing.
Key Facts
Oman’s waters are rich in commercially valuable species including tuna, sardines, shrimp, lobster, abalone, and various reef fish. Annual fish production exceeds 500,000 tonnes, combining capture fisheries and growing aquaculture output. Key fishing ports include Duqm, Sur, Salalah, and Masirah. The aquaculture sector targets production of species including shrimp, sea bream, grouper, and tilapia. Fish processing and packaging facilities are being developed to increase the value of fisheries exports. The sector provides employment to tens of thousands of Omanis, particularly in coastal communities.
Regulatory Framework
The Fisheries Law regulates fishing licences, catch quotas, seasonal restrictions, and marine conservation. Aquaculture operations require specific licences and must comply with environmental and biosecurity regulations. Fish processing facilities must meet food safety standards and obtain approvals from health authorities. Export of fish and seafood products requires phytosanitary certificates and compliance with destination country import standards. Marine protected areas and no-fishing zones are established to preserve biodiversity and fish stocks.
Opportunities
Large-scale aquaculture projects benefit from government land allocation, infrastructure support, and investment incentives. Fish processing and value addition for premium export markets offers attractive margins. Cold chain infrastructure development addresses a critical gap in the fisheries supply chain. Oman’s geographic proximity to major seafood markets in Asia and Europe provides logistics advantages. Sustainable fisheries certification and eco-labelling can command premium prices in international markets.
Considerations
Fisheries investment requires understanding of marine biology, stock sustainability, and environmental management. Aquaculture projects face biological risks including disease and environmental variability. International food safety and quality certification requirements must be met for export markets. Seasonal variations in catch volumes affect processing facility utilisation and revenue predictability. Skilled workforce development in aquaculture technology and fish processing is needed to support sector growth.