Exploring Prospects, Challenges and Pathways to Economic and Sustainable Growth: Perception of Omani Fishermen

Abstract

Fishing is not lucrative among Omanis mainly due to lack of economic viability and Oman is roughly forgoing 2.4 billion Omani rial due to lack of active involvement of fishermen in the process of value chain of fishing despite many subsidies. If the country uses its fishing potential, it can create profitable, sustainable fishing sector that contributes significantly for economic diversification and employment generation.  Developing a valid and reliable scale to measure fishermen's attitudes towards the fishery sector is an essential step in understanding the factors that influence their perceptions and behaviors. A well-designed scale can help those involved in fisheries decision making and researchers identify areas for improvement and develop targeted interventions to address issues in the fishery sector. Overall, the development of this questionnaire has provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing fishermen and the prospects for the fisheries sector. The results suggest that the adoption of appropriate measures, such as improving access to finance, investing in new technologies, and strengthening government policies, can improve the livelihoods of fishermen and promote sustainable growth in the fisheries sector.