Socio-economic structure and performance of traditional fishermen in the sultanate of Oman

Understanding the basic structure of fishing communities is vital information for a country's economic policy formation. Basic information such as income, educational level, and age of fishing participants can be useful in determining socio-economic changes between different geographical locations and fishing communities. Market supply and demand information is essential for the promotion of fishing industry improvement programs, as well as for food subsidy policies. Social and economic data for traditional fishermen in Oman is very limited in scope. Available information indicates that Omani traditional fishermen may contribute as much as 80% of the country's total catch. Worldwide, this figure is only about 25%. There are currently a number of challenges facing the Omani fishing sector, such as fish quality improvement for markets and to what extent traditional fishermen are participating in government-sponsored programs. The findings of this study have practical policy implications. For example, preliminary data indicates that traditional fishermen are aging, many have very limited educational levels, there are minimal alternative employment opportunities, and there is a need to utilize more modern equipment.