Muscat – Inspection teams from the Safety and Security Unit have detected a number of fishing violations during monitoring patrols conducted off Duqm and along the coast of Ras Madrakah in Al Wusta governorate as part of ongoing efforts to enforce fisheries regulations and protect marine resources.

During a maritime patrol carried out on Saturday, March 22, in the waters off Duqm, the team apprehended two Asian workers who were found practising fishing activities without a valid licence. The violators were also operating a boat without identification numbers and were caught harvesting spiny lobster outside the permitted fishing season.

The necessary measures were taken against the violators in preparation for completing legal procedures by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.

In a separate operation, an inspection team in Al Wusta conducted a land patrol along the Ras Madrakah coast in the wilayat of Duqm on Sunday morning. The patrol resulted in the seizure of six illegal fishing nets, which were confiscated on site in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources revealed that 3,223 violations related to marine fisheries resources were recorded across the sultanate in 2025, with 2,550 seizures made as part of enforcement campaigns.

According to ministry data, licence-related violations accounted for the largest share with 1,840 cases, including failure to obtain, renew or carry required licences for fishing boats, vessels and fish transporters. 

Authorities also recorded 440 violations involving the use or possession of banned fishing equipment, 302 violations for failing to display identification plates on vessels, and 146 cases related to employing expatriate workers illegally in the sector.

Other offences included 74 cases of fishing in prohibited areas, 149 violations linked to vessel tracking devices, 33 violations involving transport trucks, 22 offences by itinerant fish sellers, and 12 cases of shrimp fishing outside the permitted season, in addition to 205 other violations. Seizures included 1,566 fishing nets, 475 fishing tools, 107 engines and 60 boats and vessels, as well as 342 workers and expatriates found in violation of fisheries regulations.

Authorities also confiscated 12,103kg of marine catch, including 9,234kg of fish, 1,526kg of lobster, 1,309kg of shrimp and 34.5kg of shellfish.