Fish arrivals slide as temperatures rise

Observer

2 days ago

Arrival of fish at the central fish market in Muttrah has been affected due to non-availability of sufficient volumes as temperatures rise compared to last week.
While mackerel and prawns were available, tuna and other costlier varieties were scarce in supply while many bigger varieties migrated from the area closer to the shore to deeper areas due to rise in temperatures.
'For the past few days, the availability of different varieties of fish has been reduced due to high temperatures and the fish has migrated to deeper areas of the sea. The fix is that the takers of bigger and costlier fish are limited and many who look for smaller ones had to return empty-handed,' said Salem Mubarak al Rugaishi, a long-time fish buyer at Muttrah Market.
'The arrival of fish at the market has significantly decreased since temperatures began to rise substantially. We are now only catching enough fish for our livelihood, staying within one nautical mile of the shore,' said Ahmed al Hasani, a fisherman.
A new study report says globally, fish around the world are moving to colder waters as a result of global warming and that the majority of fish populations are moving nearer the north and south poles, or to deeper waters than they usually would live in, in order to stay cool. The study conducted by researchers at the University of Glasgow says that they're doing this because sea temperatures are rising which affects the fact that whether fish can reproduce, how much they grow and even how well they can digest their food.
'In my opinion, there are more than 2,000 people depending on fish catching or selling and other fish-related activities in and around Muttrah Market; and lack of fish is a real challenge for us albeit it is for a short period,' Al Hasani adds.
However, a report published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) says that Oman's commercial fish farming has been witnessing a significant growth in production over the recent years, reflecting both a rise in financial value and an expansion in the variety of species being farmed.
The report based on the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources figures says that the production of farmed fish has risen to 5,117 tonnes in 2024, with a total production value of RO 15.1 million. This represents a 7 per cent increase in volume and a notably 50 per cent rise in financial value compared to 2023, which saw production of 4,767 tonnes valued at RO 10.99 million.
The report further says that the Oman fisheries and aquaculture market size is estimated at $676.26 million in 2025; and is expected to reach $913.56 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.2 per cent during 2025-2030. The Sultanate of Oman has identified aquaculture as a key pillar of diversifying its national economy and it is the most important and oldest in Oman.