Port of Duqm signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources to approve and facilitate fish exports and imports through the Port of Duqm. The agreement was signed by H.E. Eng. Yaqoub bin Khalfan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of Fisheries at the Ministry, and Mr. Reggy Vermeulen CEO of Port of Duqm.
The Ministry seeks to develop and sustain the fisheries sector in the Sultanate of Oman by enhancing the National Program of the Economic Diversification of having to adopt, implement and initiate programs that aims to increase fish production and implement precautionary measures that will preserve the available fish resources in the Duqm area and provide suitable quality and inspection control fishing facilities in the Duqm region.
Based on this memorandum, the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources will approve Port of Duqm to be one of the authorized ports to receive the commercial and coastal fishing vessels that are registered and in compliance with IMO rules. It will also be one of the authorized ports as one of the authorized ports to export and import consignments of fish, animals and agricultural of both refrigerated and non-refrigerated containers according to the regulations and requirements approved by the Ministry and other relevant authorities. The Ministry will support the company in tracing the owners of the Commercial Vessels and Costal Vessels (whether it is registered or not registered), in case of violation according to the applicable laws in this regard, and to ensure that the relevant concerned body imposes the relevant penalties thereof. A number of technical cadres will be appointed and employed to perform the work of importing and exporting of fish, agricultural and animal consignments. This memorandum shall enter into force from the effective date specified in the memorandum and for a period of two years, which can be extended.
It is reported that the quantity of Omani fish exports during the year 2019 amounted to about 205 thousand tons, with a total value of 104 million Omani Rials. Fish exports accounted for 35% of the Sultanate's total fish production in 2019. There is about 57 countries registered around the world to which Omani fish were exported, where East Asia topped with a rate of 41%, followed by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries with 35%. The sardine fish constituted the largest percentage of the total amount of exports which is about 52%. As for fish imports, it reached more than 35 thousand tons. Moreover, the demand for small pelagic fish, especially sardine fish, has increased during the last two years from the companies and factories specialized in fish oil and fish powder production.