MUSCAT, JULY 10
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) has implemented a programme for installing automatic tracking devices on coastal and artisanal fishing vessels as part of ongoing efforts to enhance surveillance of fisheries activities and support overall safety in the industry.
To this end, the Ministry recently signed a contract with a specialized firm to install automatic tracking devices on coastal and artisanal fishing boats in the first phase, and on fishing vessels in the second phase.
The system will facilitate the seamless exchange and transmission of data between the tracked vessels with base stations via satellite. At the heart of the project is advanced hardware and software, coupled with reliable and robust performance, the Ministry noted.
Importantly, the system will also enable speedy responses in the event of emergencies, distress situations and other such contingencies by boat owners.
Additionally, it generates fisheries productivity reports, supports the marketing of fish harvests using modern automated systems, helps distinguish between legal and illegal fishing, and enhances safety and security of fishing units.
The satellites send the required information about the boats and ships to the operating rooms, and then the specialists analyze the data and information and forward the information to the concerned authorities in the Maritime Security Center (MSC) to take appropriate action where necessary.
The Sultanate of Oman’s fishing fleet comprises 24,349 artisanal fishing boats, 688 artisanal fishing vessels, 220 coastal fishing vessels and 9 commercial fishing vessels, as of end-2020.
