According to media reports, Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has secured financial allocations close to OMR 500m (US$1.2m) to develop the country''s fisheries sector during 2013 to 2020.
Oman’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Fouad bin Jaafar Al Sajwani, told the Times of Oman a strategy has been drawn up to develop the sector to help reduce the risks faced by fishermen due to adverse weather conditions and the rising cost of production.
He said the finance will be used to launch and operate the country’s central fish market in the wilayat region of Barka, as well as expand other markets. The market is set to launch at the end of the first quarter this year.
According to the Times of Oman, Dr Sajwani also said that the plan includes the construction of 41 markets in different parts of the country, of which almost 25% have been completed. The overall aim of the strategy is to expand the industry’s ability to compete in world markets.
