MUSCAT : Oman’s Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources has signed an agreement to establish a new marine fishing port in the Wilayat of Mahout in Al Wusta Governorate, in a major infrastructure push aimed at strengthening the fisheries economy and attracting new investment.

The agreement was signed by His Excellency Dr Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources, and Engineer Ahmed Mustafa Al-Assar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arab Contractors Company, which will implement the project.

The new port forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to modernise fisheries infrastructure, improve fish landing, handling and marketing operations, and provide better facilities and support services for fishermen.

It is also expected to create an attractive environment for investment in fish processing industries, tourism and other marine-related activities.

The project is considered one of the key development initiatives in Al Wusta Governorate, particularly given Mahout’s significant fisheries resources and its importance to fish production in the region.

The development is also aligned with Oman Vision 2040, supporting efforts to develop promising economic sectors, increase the value of locally produced goods and diversify sources of national income.

The project will include an integrated range of marine works, construction facilities and supporting infrastructure designed to meet the needs of the fisheries sector as well as future economic and investment activities.

Marine works include the construction of two breakwaters with a combined length of 3,020 metres and the reclamation of around 1.2 million square metres of land.

The port basin will also be dredged across an area of 688,116 square metres, reaching a depth of up to four metres.

A 4.5-kilometre road and parking network will be developed alongside electricity, lighting, water, firefighting and sewage networks.

The fishing port will feature 650 metres of fixed quays, three floating berths with a combined length of 90 metres and a 68-metre boat landing walkway.

Other facilities will include a fisheries management building, a fish market, two ice factories, boat and ship repair workshops, warehouses, fishermen’s shelters, designated plots for fish-processing factories, a fuel station and a prayer room.

The development will also include dedicated infrastructure for tourism and security-related marine activities.

A 60-metre floating marina will cater to the tourism sector, while around 1,700 square metres of land will be allocated for tourism investment.

The project will additionally provide fixed berths measuring 120 metres for the Coast Guard Police, along with an 80-metre floating marina with a depth of up to five metres.

Of the 5,134 fishermen operating across Al Wusta, 3,134 are based in Mahout, accounting for around 61 per cent of the governorate’s fishermen.

Al Wusta has a total of 2,287 fishing boats, including 969 in Mahout, or approximately 42.3 per cent of the total.

Mahout also accounts for a major share of artisanal fishing vessels. Of the 124 artisanal fishing vessels operating in Al Wusta, 95 are based in Mahout, representing around 76.6 per cent.

Al Wusta recorded total fish production of 249,646 tonnes, of which 110,503 tonnes came from Mahout, representing approximately 44.2 per cent of the governorate’s overall production.

The figures highlight the scale of fishing activity in Mahout and the growing need for integrated infrastructure capable of supporting fishermen, improving handling and marketing operations and expanding fish-processing capacity.

Once completed, the new port is expected to create a wider economic ecosystem around the fisheries industry, from fishing and landing to storage, processing, trading and marketing.

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