Muscat – Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) has launched a major project to establish two new fishing ports in Sadah alongside plans to upgrade the Raysut and Al Halaniyat ports in Dhofar. The total investment in these projects amounts to RO11.5mn.

The two fishing ports in Sadah are being built in the niyabat of Hasik and the Hadbin area of the wilayat. Additionally, MAFWR is developing an administrative building and service facilities in the fishing port in Al Halaniyat Islands. Renovation works are also underway at the Raysut fishing port, and a consultant has been appointed to design a new fishing port in the Al Fazaih area of Rakhyut.

Abdul Nasser bin Obaid Ghawas, Director of Fisheries Department in Dhofar, informed that the ministry has already started design and construction work for the ports in Hasik and Hadbin, which have a total budget of RO5.8mn. The projects include breakwaters, floating moorings and essential infrastructure like roads, lighting and facilities for fishermen.

The renovation works at Raysut cost RO3mn and include construction of a 610m protection breakwater, 70m fixed dock and 250m rock wall to prevent sand from entering the port. Around 100,000m3 of sand will be cleared from the port basin and 35,000sqm of land reclaimed near the fixed dock.

Ghawas also highlighted development of the Al Halaniyat Islands fishing port where an administrative building and service facilities will be built at a cost of RO2.5mn over the next two years.

“These projects are crucial for developing the fisheries sector and improving maritime transport in the governorate,” he said.

The ministry is also working to create an economic management system for fishing ports, aimed at boosting investment and increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy. It recently signed an agreement for the management of Taqah fishing port in partnership with the private sector.

Currently, there are four operational fishing ports in Dhofar located in Salalah, Taqah, Mirbat and Al Halaniyat Islands.