Sea cucumber fishing banned in Oman till 2030
The decision is based on the Living Aquatic Resources Law enacted via Royal Decree No 20/2019 and builds on executive regulations outlined in Ministerial Decision No 4/94, as well as Decision No 121/2022, which imposed a three-year ban from June 2022. The extended ban strictly prohibits all activities related to sea cucumbers, including fishing, buying, selling, transporting, storing and exporting.
The ministry has continued to ban fishing of sea cucumbers for the last several years. A one-year ban was enforced in March 2021, following a two-year ban covering 2019 and 2020. A similar ban was also imposed in 2018.
A study conducted by Khalfan al Rashdi and Dr Michel Claereboudt of Sultan Qaboos University found more than 21 Holothurian (sea cucumber) species in the shallow waters of Oman. Of these, only Holothuria scabra is harvested commercially, with individual specimens valued at around RO1.5. These are typically found on the western side of Masirah Island and in Mahout Bay – areas known for their extensive seagrass beds and sheltered lagoons.
The study noted that the first recorded commercial exploitation of Holothuria scabra in Oman dates back over a decade. However, like in many parts of the world, the population has declined rapidly due to overfishing.
The researchers reported, 'Overfishing evidences include a sharp decrease in population density, critically reduced to fewer than one individual per hectare – a trend observed in Oman and globally.'
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