Muscat – Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) has announced a tender for establishing an artificial coral farm in Sur, South Sharqiyah. The dead- line for bidding is October 12.

The project forms part of ongoing efforts to support Oman’s fisheries sector, strengthen food security and boost national income. Artificial reefs have already created ideal habitats for marine life, significantly increasing fish populations. The coral farm is expected to extend these benefits, creating rich fishing grounds for local fishermen and reducing the time and effort needed to locate fish stocks.

According to MAFWR, the farm will encourage selective fishing methods such as line fishing, resulting in higher-quality catches and supporting the sustainable management of marine resources.

Artificial reefs also restore degraded marine ecosystems by providing natural habitats for fish and marine organisms. This helps replenish fish stocks, maintain ecological balance, and reduce pressure on natural reef systems increasingly threatened by climate change and marine pollution.

Economically, the coral farm is expected to generate employment opportunities, revitalise traditional fishing practices and promote eco-tourism in Sur. The wilayat’s strategic coastal location along the Arabian Sea makes it an ideal site for such forward-looking environmental projects.

The ministry stated that the initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and is part of a wider strategy to develop aquaculture and conserve marine ecosystems.

In earlier phases of artificial reef deployment with private sector cooperation, MAFWR installed an undisclosed number of units in 2016, 25 units in 2017 and 22 units across 80,000sqm in 2022. By the end of 2022, large-scale artificial reef projects had been implemented at 154 sites across coastal governorates, with more than 14,000 artificial reefs installed nationwide.