September 16, 2024

 

Oman's aquaculture projects generate over 5,000 tonnes of seafood in 2023

Aquaculture projects in Oman, primarily operated by subsidiaries of Fisheries Development Oman (FDO), a part of Oman Investment Authority (OIA), produced over 5,000 tonnes of farmed fisheries and seafood products during 2023, Oman Daily Observer reported.

 

Sultana Al Jardani, business intelligence lead at FDO, highlighted in an interview featured in Enjaz & Eajaz, the quarterly newsletter of Oman Investment Authority, that the aquaculture sector is positioned for strong growth, playing a crucial role in Oman's food security strategy.

 

"Oman's shift toward aquaculture reflects a long-term strategic view aimed at achieving environmental sustainability, ensuring food security, and diversifying the economy," Al Jardani noted. She added that leveraging technological innovations and continuous improvements would allow Oman to become a regional leader in aquaculture. This approach will ensure a sustainable future for marine resources, supported by technology transfer and capacity building.

 

Al Jardani also mentioned that investments in the sector reached around OMR 33 million (US$85 million) in 2023. Several ongoing projects in collaboration with the private sector are expected to significantly contribute to the governance and expansion of the aquaculture field.

 

FDO, the fisheries investment and development arm of OIA, remains the largest investor in Oman's aquaculture sector. Two of its subsidiaries, National Shrimp Aquaculture Co and Oriental Shrimp Aquaculture Co, currently manage shrimp farms in key locations across the country.

 

According to OIA's 2023 Annual Report, farmed shrimp production by FDO subsidiaries more than doubled to 2,673 tonnes in 2023, up from 1,076 tonnes in 2022. However, European sea bream production slightly decreased to 1,867 tonnes, compared to 2,101 tonnes the previous year.

 

Shrimp production is expected to increase substantially as operations at several aquaculture projects gain momentum. In 2023, Oriental Shrimp Aquaculture commenced operations at its modern shrimp farm project in Khuwaimah, Jalan Bani Bu Ali, which spans 200 hectares and has an annual production capacity of 3,500 tonnes of shrimp.

 

Earlier, National Shrimp Aquaculture launched FDO's first shrimp farm at Qurun in Jalan Bani Bu Hassan Wilayat. Covering 500 hectares, this facility has a production capacity of 4,600 tonnes per year. Additionally, in 2023, National Shrimp established a hatchery in Barka, located in South Al Batinah Governorate, designed to serve as a shrimp seed incubator and a testing ground for future farm projects.

 

FDO is also in the final stages of designing its flagship shrimp farming project at Al Jazer on the Al Wusta coast, which will have an impressive production capacity of 20,000 tonnes of shrimp per year.

 

-      Oman Daily Observer