Oman Territorial Sea

To establish national marine boundaries.

Species of Concern: multiple

Restrictions

Oman has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of these waters. Fishing restrictions, such as bag limits, seasons, and size restrictions apply. Please consult the local fishing laws, some of which are referenced on this page, for more information.

1. It is prohibited to use cages (dawabi or dredges) in coral reefs, mangrove growth areas, lagoon and their entrances, fixed net sites for fishermen, fishing ports, protected marine sites, and prohibited marine sites determined by the Environment Authority. Fishing using Duabi (a large fish cage) is banned in the Wilayas surrounding Duqm, Aljazer, and Masirah in the Mahasura Region between 60.000 degrees east longitude and 18.10 to 21.10 degrees north latitude. Likewise, the possession of duabi on board fishing vessels is banned in these Wilayaat and on their shores.
2. The catch and release of any fish species is prohibited.
3. The fishing of shrimps is banned during the natural breeding and growing season, which starts on 1 April and continues to the last day of August of every year. The possession, handling, and trade of shrimp during this time is forbidden.
4. The fishing of Sharkha (Spiny lobster) through the breeding season and natural growing season is absolutely forbidden. This season starts on first day of May until the last day of February of the following year.
5. The fishing, harvesting, possession, trading, and sale of Safeelah (Abalone) is strictly forbidden during the breeding and growth seasons, which begins on 7 December every year and continues until 16 December. The following fishing methods and locations are prohibited for harvesting abalone: (a) hunt, collect, and trade abalone whose shell length is less than ninety (90) millimeters, (b) the use of artificial diving and breathing cylinders and equipment under water, (c) turning rocks over during diving operations, (d) the use of flood lights and artificial lighting of all kinds during diving for hunting and collecting abalone, (e) the use of a tool to extract abalone that is more than (50) fifty centimeters long or a weapon extraction tool when extracting it from its natural habitat, (f) hunting and collecting abalone overnight, from sunset until sunrise is prohibited, (g) catch and collect it in shallow sites where the water depth is less than three (3) meters, (h) catch and collect abalone in the marine areas of the Wilayat of Saleem and the Hallaniyat Islands in the Dhofar Governorate and the Wilayat of Al-Jazir in the Central Region.
6. Catching, possessing, transporting, or trading shrimp are strictly prohibited during the period of fertilization, reproduction, and natural growth, which starts from 1 December of each year and continues until 1 August of the following year. It is prohibited to catch shrimp by trawl nets (Kufah nets), or any other fishing means, except for Al Ghadf nets.
7. Fishing lobsters is prohibited during the period of natural fertilization and reproduction, which begins on 1 June of each year, and continues until the last day of February of the following year.

Allowed

Please consult local laws for information on allowed activities.
1. The use of cages to catch fish requires a license which lists the maximum number of cages: artisan fishing boats are limited to forty (40) cages; commercial fishing vessels are limited to one hundred (100) hundred cages, two net limit per vessel; and all other fishing vessels are limited to seventy-five (75) nets, one limit per vessel. Artisanal fishing vessels, coastal fishing vessels, and commercial fishing vessels must use cages (animals or dredges) at least twelve (12) miles ​​from the shore, and at a depth at least fifty (50) meters. The cages must be made of materials that are not harmful to the marine environment, as determined by the competent authority.
2. Individuals, companies, and establishments who possess quantities of abalone must register these quantities within fifteen (15) days from the end of each fishing season with the fisheries departments in Dhofar Governorate.
3. The use of harpoons requires the person to posess a fishing license for three years, be a resident of a coastal state, and apply for a harpoon license.
4. Lobsters must only be caught with cages, which must have openings to allow the escape for other marine species. Large quantities of lobsters must be reported to the Fisheries Development Departments at the Ministry and the regional Governorates.