الملخص الإنجليزي
Fisheries extension services started with the establishment of the Department of Fisheries and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in order to face the increasing problems that accompanied the rapid development in the fisheries sector. The Department, with the assistance of the Fishermen's Encouragement Fund, provided financial, technical and extension support to artisanal fishermen in the form of support for fishing boats and their engines, as well as maintenance services and the implementation of extension programs, which encouraged many citizens to practice the profession of artisanal fishing. This has led to an increase in fishing effort and consequently the depletion of some fish species such as kingfish, while at the same time new species such as the shark have been exploited economically. The fisheries sector faces internal challenges such as the low level of awareness among fishermen of the optimal use of living marine resources and thus their contribution to the national income of the Sultanate. There are also external challenges represented in the entry of the Sultanate of the World Trade Organization, whose membership requires the implementation of high quality standards and the lifting of support for fishermen.
The situation experienced by the fisheries requires the existence of an extension system capable of contributing effectively by providing guidance and evaluation of wrong and unfair practices practiced by fish workers at all levels. The effectiveness of the current fishery extension system has not yet been established either by the fishery extension system or from outside. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the fishery extension system and its programs. Scientific research methods were used in this study, including interviews with decision makers in the system and the application of a questionnaire to the fishermen and target group (artisanal fishermen). The questionnaire applied to fishery extension agents is aimed at identifying their level of training and self-learning. The questionnaire applied to artisanal fishers aims at their knowledge of the existence of the fishery extension system and their awareness of its functions according to their geographical situation, educational level and craftsmanship.The results of this study indicate the low educational level of the guides as well as the low level of their training and qualitative. However, the study indicates that counselors have a good ability to learn, and the study shows the varying experiences of counselors in the areas in which they work. The study of the questionnaire applied to artisanal fishermen shows that some of them do not know about the existence of the fish extension system and the effectiveness of its programs.The study also showed a significant relationship between the level of the fishermen's educational and artisan and its perception of the existence and effectiveness of the fish extension system, and the study pointed to a significant lack of reverse flow of information. Finally, the general results of this study show that the effectiveness of the fishery extension system is modest according to its current composition and potential and needs urgent solutions to raise the level of the effectiveness of the extension system based on scientific bases, taking into account the expected changes in the sector at the national and global level
