Around 1,121 metric tons of Omani lobster, valued at around RO 5.1 million, were caught by Omani fishermen during the three-month harvest season in 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources stated here on Wednesday.
The announcement came at the start of this year’s lobster season, which began on March 1 and will continue for three months till the end of May 22022.
Of the total lobster catch of 1,121 metric tons, around 500 tons were consumed locally, while the balance of around 621 tons was exported. Based on average market price of RO 4.5 per kilo, the total catch is valued at roughly RO 5.1 million, it noted.
According to the Ministry, of the five types of lobster species that thrive in the Sultanate of Oman, only the Panulirus Homarus and Panulirus versicolor are known to be commercially valuable.
In a post, the Ministry stressed urged fishermen to comply with adhering to approved lobster fishing practices. Only plastic cages may be used to catch between 20 – 40 lobsters, which must be bigger than 80mm, aimed at conserving this important fisheries resource from the risk of depletion, and to support the sustainability of lobster stock.
