To determine what factors influence the sustainability of fishing tourism in Oman (main actors and concerns) To determine if agents providing service are managing their environmental impacts and providing an eco-tourism option to interested visitors – what are positive and negative impacts, a scorecard to measure sustainability, score main operators on this and give overall rating To provide recommendations for Oman’s government and agents under sustainability framework

1. Environmental Management
of International Tourism
Development
Megan Epler Wood
ENVR E-118
Fall 2013
Is Oman on
track for
sustainable
fishing tourism?
Hala Srouji
ID: 10920779
hala8halo@yahoo.com

2. Aims
 Provide
holistic view of Oman’s
sustainable fishing tourism industry
 Measure
Oman’s fishing tourism operators
for sustainability
 Analyze
and provide recommendations

3. Fishing
Subsistence
Recreational/Sport Commercial
Overfishing, Biodiversity, Pollution, Competition
Employment, Food security, Taxes
$667
63 people

4. Fishing sustainability in Oman
 High
density/overfishing on northern coast
 Trawling banned in 2011
 85-95% artisanal catch
 0.5% to GDP
 Aquaculture strategy in 2007
 3 Marine Protected Areas
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Yearbook, 2012

5. The Holistic view
Economic
Environ
Social
Angler
(mid to high experience)
High quality experience
(value for price)
High target fish stock
High biodiversity
Low footprint
Experienced crew
Education
Tour Operator
(recreational fishing)
High target fish stock
Regular angler influx
Safe operations (risk)
High biodiversity
Low footprint
Regulation/Enforcement
Jobs to locals
Education
Government subsidy
Added-value market
Fuel/equipment cost
High target fish stock
Low pollution
Regulation/Enforcement
Territorial security
High target fish stock
Added-value market
Regulation/Enforcement
Low footprint
Waste management
High biodiversity
Jobs to locals
Brand reputation
FDI Investment/SME
Regulation/Enforcement
Food security
Jobs/training to locals
High biodiversity
Low pollution
Climate change
Country reputation
Skills development
Respect of local customs
Local tourism providers
Regular tourist influx
Added-value market
Waste management
Low pollution
Jobs to locals
Country/brand reputation
Local Community
Jobs/training to locals
Food security
Access to water resource
Low pollution
Respect of local customs
Subsidies/sponsorship
Jobs/training to locals
Education
Conservation
Policy influence
NGOs
Local Fisherman
Commercial Fishery
Government
Source: interviews with each group

6. Sustainability scorecard
Econ
75% of fish catch and release
Econ
investing in tagging, or social or environ research
Environ
only 4 stoke engine boats
Environ
involved in others’ waste removal, research tagging or illegal fishing
reporting
Social
every trip includes at least 1 Omani crew
Social
separate lodges for men/women in coastal villages

7. Quantitative Research
 Omani

sport fishing tour operators
Sample of 12 companies





All licensed with Oman tourism & fisheries bodies
7.5 average years in operation (1-17 range)
92% expatriate management
75% SME
50% ‘sustainability’ in company profile

8. Results
Econ
75% of fish catch and release
75%
Econ
investing in tagging, or social or environ research
42%
Environ
only 4 stoke engine boats
50%
Environ
involved in others’ waste removal, research tagging or illegal fishing
reporting
33%
Social
every trip includes at least 1 Omani crew
83%
Social
separate lodges for men/women in coastal villages
42%

9. Additional footprint measures
Transport
Accommodation
Equipment
Social
Boat emissions
Electricity/fuel/diesel
Freshwater consumption
on/by boat
Local skills
development/ wages
Transport
accommodation
to/from marina
Water
Coolbox/Icebox - ice
creation
Engaging local SME
artisans
Transport airport to/from
accommodation
Food
Construction of
boat/paint on boat
Education/Investment
Distance traveled by
visitor and mode of
transport
Waste (kg/day)
Fabrication of reels,
lines, tools
Participation of poor
communities
Distance traveled by
staff and mode of
transport
% local supplier
procurement or
% eco-friendly supplies

10. Recommendations
 Operators




union
Improve database
Improve conservation / best practices
Facilitate communication with government
Voluntourism
 Government




Code or legislation
Incentivize regulation support
Whistleblowing protection
Tournament

11. More reading..

12. Sport fishing can be a form of
ecotoursim if:






A unique natural resource
A unique clientele
An activity of environmental resource
responsibility
An activity with economic support for
resource conservation
An activity that provides an economic
advantage for appreciative use
An activity with direct economic assistance to
the local economy
Source: Journal of Sustainable Tourism (1998), An ecotourism perspective on billfish fisheries

13. Environmental Management
of International Tourism
Development
Megan Epler Wood
ENVR E-118
Fall 2013
Is Oman on
track for
sustainable
fishing tourism?
Hala Srouji
ID: 10920779
hala8halo@yahoo.com