Muscat – Six people were arrested for catching lobsters illegally in Dhofar Governorate outside the lobster fishing season.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) said, ‘The fisheries control team in the Directorate General of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources, in Dhofar Governorate, arrested six people on a fishing boat in the wilayat of Mirbat, for possessing lobsters caught illegally outside the specified season.’

The lobster fishing season in Oman starts from March 1 to May 31 every year.

‘MAFWR organises monitoring campaigns in cooperation with relevant authorities, including the Coast Guard of Royal Oman Police, Royal Oman Navy, Maritime Security Centre, and the Ministry of Labour regularly,’ the statement added.

The Ministry confirmed that the law punishes violations of fishing and possessing lobster during the ban period, with a fine ranging from RO300 to RO5,000.