Oman Pelagics CEO Dawood Al Wahaibi confident Oman is tracking toward seafood stardom

Oman’s government has committed to revamping its seafood industry via significant investments in its aquaculture, commercial fishing, processing, infrastructure , and services sectors through Fisheries Development Oman. Oman Pelagics CEO Dawood Al Wahaibi, who is also an FDO board member, provided an inside perspective on this effort to SeafoodSource at the 2023 Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain.

SeafoodSource: What is the impetus behind this initiative?

Al Wahaibi: Fishing has always been part of the story of Oman, and we have embarked on an ambitious plan to expand on our fisheries resources in a sustainable way. Oman has been dependent on oil and gas for many years, and to diversify our economy, a decision was made by the government to develop other sectors. And one of the main pillars of that plan is fisheries. So out of that, Oman consulted with the World Bank and other international experts, and they recommended the development of the small pelagics sector and aquaculture. We have since done work to decide where to start on this project. We admit we have started late on this, but as a result, we can learn from what has already worked elsewhere and try to make quicker advances.

SeafoodSource: Can you describe in greater detail the role FDO is playing in this effort?

Al Wahaibi: FDO is directly overseen …

Photo by Cliff White/SeafoodSource