May 6, 2024

Saudi Arabia aims to boost fish output to 230,000 metric tonnes in 2024

Saudi Arabia's fisheries department aims to ramp up fish production in the Middle Eastern nation to 230,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2024, aiming to bridge the significant gap between the country's current supply and its demand with increased domestic production, SeafoodSource reported.

Head of Saudi Arabia's fisheries department, Hussein Al-Nazari, reported a substantial surge in fish production, with output jumping 80% year-on-year in 2023 to 214,600 MT, compared to 119,000 MT the previous year. Despite this growth, the country's fish consumption continues to surpass its production, necessitating heavy reliance on seafood imports to meet demand.

Three years ago, the disparity between domestic seafood output and demand was even more pronounced, with production at 99,000 MT while consumption soared to 250,000 MT in 2021.

To accelerate growth, initiatives led by the country's Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, including the development of 16 fishing ports along Saudi Arabia's extensive coastline bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, have been set in motion. These ports, strategically located in areas yielding European sea bream, barramundi, sea bass, among others, aim to bolster the country's marine fish production, which serves as the primary source of seafood output.

Aligned with these efforts, the Saudi Arabian government is actively seeking private-sector investment to support fishermen and enhance fishing capabilities by providing reliable forecasts about sea conditions and offering incentives such as covering 75% of a fisheries project's capital expenditures. Additionally, direct financial support, interest-free loans, and discounts on fishing production equipment purchases are being offered to individuals and firms willing to invest in fish production.

In the short term, Saudi Arabia's focus is on moving closer to achieving self-sufficiency in seafood supply, with particular emphasis on fish farming, especially high-yield fish breeds. Furthermore, aquaculture features prominently in the futuristic city of NEOM, situated on the Red Sea coast, with plans underway for an aquaculture-focused project named OXAGON, aiming to produce over 50,000 MT of fish annually through a combination of indoor and outdoor RAS ponds.

-      SeafoodSource