To deal with an expected shortfall and to support fish markets during summer months when high temperature and choppy seas prevent fishermen from venturing into the sea, Oman Fisheries Company (OFC) has decided to supply 2,500 tonnes of fish during the next couple of months at rational rates.
With the approaching month of Ramadan, the demand for local favourites like tuna and kingfish usually goes up.
We know that there is not much fish in the market during summers, and for last couple of years we have worked towards mitigating the shortfall. This year we have stored about 2,500 tonnes of frozen fish to be distributed across the sultanate, said a senior official at OFC.
The official said that the idea is to keep the market supplied with fish stocks and thereby manage the rates. By ensuring unbridled supply we can control the market prices which will guarantee a lid on unchecked inflation, he said.
The official said that to supply such a large quantity of fish, the company has to work months in advance. The fish has been stocked at our cold storage facilities in Barka and Muttrah. More than 40 shops have been recognised across the sultanate to supply the stock, said the official.
Increasing procurement from fishermen across many landing centres had been identified as the critical success factor for achieving this responsibility, the company said in its management report for financial performance during the year ended March 31, 2013.
The official said that the fish stocked include varieties that are most sought-after like kingfish, emperor, croaker and tuna among others.
To maintain stocks in the local market, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries had issued a decision on May 21 to ban the export of six types of fishes with effect from June 1 till the end of September. The decision imposes ban on export of tuna, kingfish, Al Sahwa, Al Anqad, Al Kofar and some types of crayfish.
The decision instructs owners of fish marketing and transport companies to market an equal quantity of export-banned fishery during this period against licence for export of five types of fish namely Al Shaari, Al Ashkhali, Al Aqam, Al Habs and Al Hamour.
2012 Apex Press and Publishing