MoAF bans fishing and trading of sea cucumbers for a year

According to Article 1 of the selection, fishing of sea cucumbers in all Omani fishing waters is prohibited for 1 year from the date of implementation of this order. Any sort of handling of the sea cucumber is prohibited, whether or not by sale, obtain, transportation, storage or export throughout the embargo.

Article two stipulates that fishermen, folks, establishments and organizations holding quantities of sea cucumbers prior to the issuance of this selection shall register with MoAF or the fisheries departments in the governorates inside a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of implementation of this selection.

Following this, permits will be issued and they should be disposed off inside a period not exceeding 4 months from the date of the implementation of the selection.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Dr Hussein al Maskati, director, improvement and management of Fish Resources, MoAF, stated, “Sea cucumbers are found in abundance in the wilayat of Mahout in Al Wusta governorate. They help preserve the marine environment. The temporary ban has been issued for several reasons such as to know the number of sea cucumber found in the sultanate, the amount of decrease and the increasing global demand.”

Information Source: Muscat Daily