September 4, 2018

Oman bans import of fish from Estonia

Oman's Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has banned Estonia fish imports with no official reasoning given.

According to a local newspaper, the decision was made based on the law of veterinary quarantine in the country. "The decision also included that import of fish and fish products from Estonia are forbidden, unless thermally treated, until future notice," the newspaper stated.

Elen Kurvits, spokesperson for the Veterinary and Food Board (VTA), said that Oman has not officially notified Estonian authorities of the ban.

However, the ban is not forecasted to have significant impacts on Estonian fish exporters as their primary export partners are the neighbouring EU nations, including, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Russia, Germany and Lithuania, which makes up for 60% of the total Estonian export markets in 2017.

In 2014, Estonia's total fish catch rounded up to 67,964 tonnes, with majority of its fish supplies originating from the Baltic Sea catch.

It added that there were 83 fish processing plants producing for both domestic and international markets. Edible fish found in the waters off Estonia include Atlantic herring and Atlantic salmon.