الملخص الإنجليزي
The Al-Batinah region in northern Oman has the highest number of fishermen, with around 14,216 in the country. Traditionally, fishermen used environmentally unfriendly materials like tires and old car frames to create Traditional Artificial Reefs (TARs) to attract fish. Concerned about the use of these resources, the of Oman (MAFWR) decided to deploy approximately 18,325 artificial reef units (MARs) between 2003 and 2021 at a total cost of 4,093,107 OMR (10,631,714 USD). The main goal of these artificial reef initiatives was to increase fisheries production in Al-Batinah. Despite being home to the Middle East's largest artificial reef farm, these initiatives face significant scientific limitations, and their overall performance has yet to be evaluated. Three scientific assessments have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial reef projects: ecological, social, and economic. The Sea of Oman's artificial reef ecosystem is considered a developing system due to its low stability and maturity, according to an ecological assessment using Ecopath with Ecosim software. The study identified 38 fish species/functional groups across 140 km2 of the artificial reef farm, assessing the aquatic system's essential characteristics. The social assessment involved a 5-point Likert scale survey of 96 fishermen in North Al-Batinah to assess the fishermen’s perceptions of whether MARs enhance fisheries productivity and are used effectively. The survey revealed that 55.0% of fishermen own TARs, but 79.0% still need to use MARs due to location concerns. They prefer to fish within TARs or in open seas. Most fishermen understand the importance of MARs in increasing Wilayat fishery production and variety. 91.0% believe TARs are fish aggregation mechanisms, while 88% think they benefit fisheries. The economic impact of the MAR projects in Oman was analyzed through a survey to measure the recreational value of ecosystem services provided by coral reefs using the Travel Cost Method. The survey estimated that coral reefs generate an annual consumer surplus of 187,763 OMR (approximately USD 487,727), demonstrating their significant economic influence. Increased reef richness level leads to higher recreational demand, while reduced coverage decreases diving interest, emphasizing the importance of artificial reef development. The study suggests that more research is needed to improve input data, evaluate ecosystem health, and examine management options for artificial reefs in the Sultanate of Oman, considering fish capture statistics. It recommends that the (MAFWR) regulate and enforce the use of the artificial reef sites, with a focus on long-term awareness campaigns within government agencies and fishing communities in Oman. Additionally, policymakers should consider investing in new artificial reefs projects while protecting natural reefs to promote recreational activities and marine biodiversity. If these recommendations are implemented, the existing and future artificial reef initiatives have the potential to significantly increase fisheries production in the Al-Batinah region and improve the livelihoods of local traditional fishermen.
