MUSCAT: Fish production in the Sultanate of Oman witnessed a decrease of 22.6% to 346,391 tons at the end of May 2022 compared to 447,391 tons during the same period in 2021.
However, the total value increased by 1.9% to reach OMR 187 million at the end of May 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, according to the statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Among the governorates of the Sultanate, Al Wusta with a catch of 126,937 tons, topped the list of fish landed by the artisanal fishing sector, registering a fall of 32% in May 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. South Al Sharqiyah Governorate (101,303 tons) and Dhofar Governorate (32,646 tons) followed the leader.
The artisanal fishing sector acquires the bulk of fish production in the Sultanate and also witnessed a decrease of 24.3% at 324,004 tonnes at the end of May 2022 compared to 428,041 tonnes during the same period in 2021.
Muscat Governorate’s artisanal fishing increased by 21% at the end of May 2022 to reach 13,403 tons compared to 11,081 tons during the same period in 2021.

According to the NCSI data, the coastal and commercial fishing sectors registered an increase of 16.7% and 8.5%, respectively. Small pelagic fish constituted the largest proportion of the total production of the artisanal fishing sector till May 2022, reaching 174,837 tons, a 34% decrease compared to the same period in 2021.