Dhofar Governorate tops lobster production
Fishermen rely on lobster for its good economic returns and there has been an increase in its production
JAALAN BAN BU HASSAN: Lobster season ended last week in the Governorates of South Al Sharqiyah, Dhofar and Al Wusta.
The season began in the first of March 2016 and lasted two months. The lobster season is one of the most important seasons that is counted upon by many fishermen.
It makes a good economic payoff for fishermen in those governorates.
Lobster is one of the most important economic resources that is relied upon by the Omani fishermen who make a good and rewarding payoff per season.
The fishermen catch lobster annually at the coastal wilayats in the Governorates of South Al Sharqiyah, Dhofar and Al Wusta overlooking the Arabian Sea as those governorates embrace locations rich in lobster.
Salim bin Sultan al Araimi, Director of Fisheries Department in the Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali, in the Niyabat of Al Ashkharah, pointed out that positive economic indicators have been recorded through the production quantities and lobster sizes that have been caught in 2016 in some of the coastal villages in the Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah. He added that production has gone up in comparison with previous years.
He told ONA that specialists of the ministry are collecting and analysing scientific, economic and statistical indicators of the current season in the Sultanate.
He added that according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries statistics, the production of lobster in 2015 amounted to 416 tonnes compared to 302 tonnes in 2014, comprising an increase of 114 tonnes.
The Governorates of Dhofar and Al Wusta are the most productive governorates. Dhofar came first with 271 tonnes, followed by South Al Sharqiyah with 73 tonnes and Al Wusta came third with 62 tonnes.
Al Araimi affirmed that lobster has a good sale value as one kilogramme of lobster during this season ranges between RO 3.5 to RO 4.5. Lobster is locally consumed and exported to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and some Asian and European countries. — ONA