Genetic profiling of lobster
Ensuring a sustainable and long-term viable fish of marine species will contribute in creating diversity in economy, in addition to generating wealth and foreign currency earnings via exports and increase in gross domestic product and employment.
All these objectives are in line with the national ambitions of the government and will be of long-term benefit to citizens.
The report found that the gross unit revenue from lobsters has increased from around RO 3,000 per tonne in the 1980s to more than RO 5,000 per tonne in 2016. This has accelerated the demand for lobster and contributes to the current over exploitation that lobster fishing is experiencing.
In Oman, the major commercial species, the scalloped spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus (P homarus), inhabits the Arabian Sea coast between Ras al Hadd and Dhalkout. It is a reef dwelling species, most abundant on coral and coastal fringing rocky reefs and the areas surrounding these.
The project is led by Dr Madjid Delghandi, senior scientist, at the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology.
This work is unique and describes a collaborative effort between domestic scientists from the CEMB, the ministry, and the College of Agriculture and Marine Science at SQU, along with international collaborators from Australia and South Africa.
The knowledge will strongly contribute to sustainable management of fisheries and subsequently protect spiny lobster stock in Oman.
It also supports future activities related to commercial aquaculture developments of this species in Oman and in other tropical regions.
The results from this study indicate the presence of two major stocks of scalloped spiny lobsters in Oman, one consisting of stock from Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta governorates, while the second one includes spiny lobsters from Dhofar.
Findings support the idea of regional management measures for these genetically different stocks. Findings of the project have been published in seven scientific manuscripts in international journals with high impact factors.
The other members of the team involved in this project are Rufaida al Buraiki, PHD student, Abdulaziz al Marzouqi, General Director of Fisheries Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Hussein Samh al Masroori, Assistant Professor, Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, and Mohammed al Abri, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences, SQU.