(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Jalaan Bani Bu Ali - The fishermen of Dhofar, Al Wusta and South Sharqiyah have started fishing lobsters since last week. The season started at the beginning of March and will conclude by the end of April. Lobsters are considered one of the most valuable marine resources and its fishing season is an important economic activity for fishermen, especially those living in the coastal areas of the governorates.
Lobsters live among rocks and coral reefs, as well as in sandy and clay environments and in shallow depths close to the beaches. Salim bin Sultan al Araimi, director of Fisheries Department in Jalaan Bani Bu Ali, said, 'During the 2017 season, positive economic indicators were recorded in terms of quantities of production and sizes of fish that were caught.'
Araimi explained that preliminary indicators of fish statistics show that the sultanate's production of lobsters during the 2017 season amounted to 464 tonnes according to the statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF), while the quantity of production in 2016 was 430 tonnes, an increase of eight per cent.
Dhofar landed the largest haul (329 tonnes), followed by South Sharqiyah (67 tonnes), and Al Wusta (59 tonnes). The price of a kilogramme of lobster varies between RO4 and RO5 depending on the quantity and supply and demand. It is consumed locally and internationally, exported to the Gulf countries and to some Asian and European countries as well. The Department of Fisheries Development in Jalaan Bani Bu Ali has conducted field visits to raise awareness regarding MoAF laws.
MENAFN1103201801410000ID1096573994
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.