Largest marine farm in the Middle East launched in Oman

Muscat: The largest Industrial marine farm in the Middle East was launched in Oman on Thursday.
His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Saeed Al Awfi, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, inaugurated the farm in Suwaiq on Thursday morning. This is considered as the largest marine farm in the Middle East and is built at a cost of OMR 2.65 million.

Dr. Abdulaziz bin Saeed Al Marzouqi, Director General of Fish Resources Development at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, said: “Industrial reefs are defined as marine habitats that are designed and manufactured from environmentally friendly materials and in various models that are compatible with the depths and target marine creatures, where they are landed on the seafloor, especially in areas that lack the presence of natural coral reefs.''
''The importance of industrial reefs in enhancing the biological diversity of the region that is established by providing an appropriate environment for the reproduction and feeding of marine creatures, and thus contributing to enhancing and maintaining the fish stock, is highlighted. It also provides an ideal fishing environment for fishermen.'' he added.

He confirmed that: ''The projects of the marine farm from the industrial reefs in the Sultanate proved to be very successful after many small projects were implemented, as the Ministry carried out several industrial reef projects in the past years distributed to over 14 wilayats in the Sultanate, and the number of industrial reef units that were landed in these wilayats 13,890 units.''

Read more details in Sunday’s edition of Times of Oman newspaper.