Oman - National Report 2018

The total production of the Omani fishery sector amounted to around 348,000 Tons in 2017 with an increase of approximately 24% compared to 2016.
Tuna species considered as highly valuable products for Omani consumers, have experienced significant increases in the total annual production and increasing (for Tuna and Sharks species) from  47,517 mt in 2015 to  54,824mt in 2016 and to 57,426 mt in 2017. This increase finds its origin, in the dynamism shown by the traditional fleet on the tuna coastal resources and probably the slowdown of the fishing pressure in the Yemen waters.  For the industrial fleet, the number of vessels decreased from 10 vessels in 2011 to 3 vessels in 2014 and to 1 vessel in 2017. This reduction in the industrial fishing capacity was initiated by the national Authorities for the purpose of restructuring the industrial fishing sector to improve its competitiveness and efficiency. At the annual IOTC meeting in 2018, the Sultanate has submitted a revised version of its Fleet Development Plan which is scheduled to be implemented in the upcoming years. Artisanal and coastal fleets have, however, increased slightly in the number of vessels and fishermen.
For the monitoring aspects of the Tuna fishery, the Omani Government has introduced the logbook data collection scheme, the Vessel Monitoring System (Upgrading the system is ongoing),  Port Sampling Program (PSP), and a scheme to enhance the quality of data gathered in order to contribute to manage and sustain efficiently the Omani fisheries.
At the same time, the Government started to run and monitor several other projects for other marine species such as sea birds and marine turtles. While the sea birds program is still in its starting stages, the turtle program has been launched and several assessment missions and reports have been completed and multiple public awareness sessions and fishermen sensitisation programs have been executed particularly in Massirah Island. A very informative conference has been organized in October 2018 by the Environment Society of Oman during which the status of loggerhead sea turtles has been presented and discussed by a large audience of Government participants and other concerned stakeholders.