Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources today signed four contracts with a number of local companies for high-value investments in the aquaculture sector, with a total value exceeding RO 51 million. These investments are distributed across the Governorates of South A'Sharqiyah, Al Wusta and Muscat.

According to Oman News Agency, the contracts were signed on behalf of the Ministry by Dr. Saud Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, together with the chief executive officers of the companies implementing these projects.

In the Governorate of South A'Sharqiyah, two contracts were signed for the implementation of shrimp farming projects. The first was with the Local Fish Company, with an investment value of RO 20 million and an annual production capacity of up to 5,000 tonnes. The second contract was signed with the Arab Company for Aquatic Development, with an investment value of RO 21.3 million to produce 6,000 tonnes of shrimp.

The third project was signed with the Arabian Sea Aquaculture Company, with an investment cost of RO 6 million to produce 2,000 tonnes of shrimp in the Governorate of Al Wusta.

The fourth project pertains to finfish farming in the Wilayat of Quriyat, Muscat Governorate, signed with Marjan Global Fish Company, with an investment value exceeding RO 3.8 million Omani and an annual production capacity of up to 2,000 tonnes of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).