The Biology and Economic Analysis of the Traditional Omani-lndian Oil Sardine Sardinella longiceps Val. Fishery Along the Coast ofOman.

The collection of basic fish biological data is very important in fisheries science. These biological data include length, weight, sex, maturation stages, fecundity, age..etc. Parameters obtained from such data are important for fish stock assessment, management and development. Due to the ecological, biological, and economical importance of the Omani sardines the current proposed study is going to estimate the different biological and economical parameters that are essential in recommending the best development and management approaches for such a fishery. Sardines are considered to be very important fish along the Omani coast as they are generally an easy catch for the traditional coastal Omani fishermen and good source of income as well (Al-Jufaili 2002). Sardines are also important food sources for the large valuable fishes including kingfish and tuna among others. This proposal will also include an economic analysis to investigate the economic potential of sardines. Specifically, the economic analysis will explore the various value-added products that can be produced from sardines. Sardines are commercially fished for a multiplicity of uses ranging from immediate consumption; bait; drying; and processing into fish meal or oil. The chief use of sardines is for human consumption, but fish meal is used as animal feed, while sardine oil has many uses, including the manufacture of paint, varnish and linoleum. Currently, in Oman sardines are mainly fished for immediate human consumption. Therefore, it is very important to: First, understand the biology and the economy of the sardine fishery in Oman. Secondly, investigate the possibility of processing sardines in Oman to add value and create processing jobs in the country.

The collection of basic fish biological data is very important in fisheries science. These biological data include length, weight, sex, maturation stages, fecundity, age..etc. Parameters obtained from such data are important for fish stock assessment, management and development. Due to the ecological, biological, and economical importance of the Omani sardines the current proposed study is going to estimate the different biological and economical parameters that are essential in recommending the best development and management approaches for such a fishery. Sardines are considered to be very important fish along the Omani coast as they are generally an easy catch for the traditional coastal Omani fishermen and good source of income as well (Al-Jufaili 2002). Sardines are also important food sources for the large valuable fishes including kingfish and tuna among others. This proposal will also include an economic analysis to investigate the economic potential of sardines. Specifically, the economic analysis will explore the various value-added products that can be produced from sardines. Sardines are commercially fished for a multiplicity of uses ranging from immediate consumption; bait; drying; and processing into fish meal or oil. The chief use of sardines is for human consumption, but fish meal is used as animal feed, while sardine oil has many uses, including the manufacture of paint, varnish and linoleum. Currently, in Oman sardines are mainly fished for immediate human consumption. Therefore, it is very important to: First, understand the biology and the economy of the sardine fishery in Oman. Secondly, investigate the possibility of processing sardines in Oman to add value and create processing jobs in the country.

The Indian oil sardine Sardinello longiceps; locally called Uma,' is distributed almost all over the Omani coast. There are five different sardine species recorded within the Omani waters including Sardinella albella (Valenciennes 1847) S. melanura (Cuvier 1829 ), S. sindensis (Day 1878), and S. gibbosa (Bleeker lS29). However; 95Yo of the total Omani sardines'landings are from the Indian oil sardine (Dorr III et. al. 1990). The Omani coastal fishery is categorized into small pelagics; large pelagics; demersals; shellfishes; and sharks and rays. Small pelagics contribute normally up to 39o/o and 2lYo to the total Omani fisheries landings and values respectively. Sardines alone could contribute up to 760/o and 5lo/o to the total small pelagics landings and values, respectively. Al-Batina and Muscat regions contributed the highest to the total landings; among other Omani regions; Musandam; Muscat; and Sharqiya and Al-Wusta regions. Total sardine's prices ranges from 114 to 225 Omani Rials per ton depending on where the sardines are coming from. On the other hand; Al-Batina and Muscat regions contributed the most in the total sardine values. Detailed investigation conducted on sardines were all limited on collecting samples from Muscat area particularly from Mutrah, Al-Seeb, and Al-Athaiba (Siddeek et al 1994, AlBarwain 1987, Osman et al. , Al-Jufaili under publication). The current study is a little bit different from these studies as it is going to include samples from Salalah and Musandam in addition to Muscat. The current study will be looking at some biological and economical parameters that will help in the management and development of the sardine fishery in Oman. The sampling period of the current study will be for one year only on a monthly basis and the study will focus on a comparative analysis between these three areas.