(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Emphasising on ensuring quality of seafood available in Oman, H E Dr Fuad bin Jaafar bin Mohammed al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, expressed hope that a three-day international conference on Seafood Safety, Quality and Traceability Systems that began on Monday, will come up with recommendations to boost the fisheries sector.
Fisheries experts from nearly 20 countries are taking part in the conference, inaugurated by H E Dr Sajwani along with Minister of Health H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid al Saeedi at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz Carlton Hotel.
H E Dr Sajwani said, ''Seafood is a major component of families in Oman. Therefore, taking care of the quality and safety of food is very important. The conference will widely discuss issues from rules and regulations to consumers. There is participation from different countries and organisations. We hope that they bring with them many good suggestions to be implemented, particularly when we are proceeding ahead with our strategy on the sector.'' Under the strategy, the ministry will be providing new licences for and subsidies on new fishing vessels
''This will happen in a few weeks from now. The government has approved subsidies on 500 such vessels. The first 100 beneficiaries will be declared soon. Right now, our fishing fleet is primarily of small boats and hence our men cannot go deep into the sea
''These new vessels, equipped with latest technology, will have the ability to go far into the sea and fish more,'' H E Dr Sajwani said.
''We will be opening a wholesale market for fish and fish products in Al Felaij on the outskirts of Muscat,'' he added.
Fish production to touch 480,000 metric tonnes by 2020
With an allocation of RO509mn for development of the fisheries sector, production is expected to reach 480,000 metric tonnes by 2020.
''We hope that by 2020 this will result in doubling the current production from 200,000 metric tonnes to 480,000 metric tonnes,'' said H E Dr Hamed bin Said al Oufi, Undersecretary for fisheries wealth in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
''A budget of RO509mn has been allocated for fisheries development, improving infrastructure, fishing ports, markets, fishing fleet, aquaculture and also helping fisherman acquire better technology. This has already started and will continue until
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.