Muscat – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) has announced a ban on abalone fishing and harvesting for the 2025 season as part of efforts to protect and rebuild stocks in Omani waters.

In a statement, the ministry said all activities related to abalone – including possession, processing, transport, sale, purchase and export – are prohibited during the ban. Exceptions apply only to quantities legally caught in previous seasons and registered with the Fisheries Department, provided the necessary permits are obtained.

Abalone numbers have been steadily declining, prompting the ministry to impose periodic bans in recent years. The ban was lifted for ten days in November 2024, but before that, harvesting was prohibited from 2020 to 2023 following a brief opening of the season in 2019 after a two-year suspension.

Catches have dropped sharply over the past decade. Current annual yields range between 50 and 55 tonnes, compared to 149 tonnes in 2011 when fishing resumed after a three-year moratorium.

The ministry said abalone stocks continue to face pressure from unsustainable practices during the fishing season and illegal fishing outside the permitted period.

It stressed that the ban aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the species and support marine biodiversity.