Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is developing a system for the economic management and operation of the fishing harbours using the best feasible investment practices, said a senior ministry official in a report.

The fishing harbour system in the sultanate will witness a radical change, Dr Khalid bin Mansour al Zedjali, director general of the fishing harbours at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, was quoted as saying in the Oman Daily Observer report.

He added that the ministry is working to have a national integrated systems that comprise the economic fishing system, the tourism system and the security system.

Dr Al Zedjali pointed out that the economic fishing systems will focus on providing fishermen at the harbours with necessary facilities at the harbours at the landing sites to provide the conducive environment for the fish processing industry that can enhance in-country value (ICV) of the industry and maximise its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) and exports, in partnership with the private sector.

He said that the tourism system for the harbours focuses on making the harbours attractive and create new industry that merge fishing with tourism, in coordination with the relevant organisations to create what is called the fishing tourism.

Dr Al Zedjali explained that the security system includes providing integrated security for the fishing harbour by the harbour security department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the coast guard at the Royal Oman Police (ROP).

He noted that the ministry plans to establish nine new harbours in different governorates, and its work is under way to provide the detailed designs for the development of seven other harbours, added the report.