New species of fish found in Oman

Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has documented a new species of fish for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman.

"An Omani fisherman caught the Escolar fish a member of Gempylidae ( snake mackerel) family in the eastern coasts of Mirbat, Dhofar Governorate," the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources said in a statement.

 The Oman Fishermen Association along with Marine Science and Fisheries Centre delivered the fish and handed it over to specialists for inspection and to ensure the accurate scientific classification of the species. This scientific recording and documentation is a great addition to the biodiversity balance in the seas of the Sultanate.

 The Ministry encourages Omani fishermen to inform the Centre if they find any fish that has not been seen before and to communicate with specialists and researchers in this field.

The escolar has a dark brown color and darkens with age until it becomes completely black. This fish is characterised by being fast moving while swimming with a prominent side beam and multiple fins on its body ranging from 4-6 fins after the anal fin and the second dorsal fin. Escolar may reach 2 m in length, and weigh between 30 and 50 kg.