Construction work on an aquaculture plant in Oman is expected to start before the end of this year or early in 2018, according to a high-level executive of Al Hosn Investment Company.

The company are initially looking at producing around 750 tonnes per annum of barramundi, rising to 1,500 tonnes in the next stage, Rumaitha al Busaidi, Aquaculture Specialist, was quoted as saying in an Oman Daily Observer report.

Al Busaidi revealed that the goal is to be operational by 2019.

She said that the project will be based on recirculating aquaculture technology supplied by its technical partner, Denmark-based Inter Aqua Advance.

She added that this is a land-based recirculating system technology, which they chose based on the values of Al Hosn, which is to protect the local environment. With the use of a recirculating and integrated system, there is very little effluent that goes into the sea.

Barramundi, the consumption of which is presently limited in the sultanate, is primarily destined for export markets, according to the aquaculture specialist.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Fisheries has already approved six of these projects for early execution, with the remainder currently in various stages of review. They include ventures backed by international investors and technical partners.

Significantly, the project is among a portfolio of 24 private and public sector fish-farming ventures collectively valued at over $2 billion that are planned for implementation around the Sultanate over the coming years, added the report.