English abstract
In recent years concerns about seafood quality and safety standards have been at the forefront of both national and global policy debates due to the world-wide campaign of liberalization of seafood trade. Also the seafood sector has been experiencing increasing trend in production, consumer demand and the growing consumers' interest in seafood quality and safety. Therefore, it is important for national authorities to take proactive regulatory measures to ensure seafood quality and safety by strengthening national food control systems. The seafood processing industry is playing an important role in enhancing the socio-economic contribution of the fisheries sector in the Sultanate of Oman through the collection, processing and distribution of fisheries products to domestic and international markets. There are various internal and external factors that influence either directly or indirectly the performance of the processing industry and thereby affect (either positively or negatively) the quality and safety of their products.
This study is mainly focused on the regulatory governance mechanism that relates to authority, interaction, process, policies and decisions addressing fish quality and safety in Oman. It involved two of the key stakeholders namely, the competent authority and the seafood processing companies (who hold quality control numbers) to assess the existing governance efforts to ensure seafood quality and safety in the seafood processing industry. A questionnaire survey was carried out with the two groups. The main elements of the questionnaire were mainly decided based on the review of relevant government reports, national and international publications and preliminary interviews with representatives from both groups. A pilot study was conducted involving representatives from both groups. The feedback received from the pilot study was used to prepare the final questionnaires which were distributed to 16 seafood processing companies and 12 representatives from the competent authority.
The primary data collected from both groups through the questionnaire was analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. A Chi-squared 6 ) test was used to determine if significant differences existed between the responses from the companies and the authority, and between the companies from Muscat and from outside the Muscat region in relation to the various aspects of the governance system. In addition, descriptive statistics were also used to analyze the data,
Although specific benefits derived from the quality control regulations were being recognized by both groups a number of key constrains found from this study that have important policy implication include, amongst others; 1) the implementation and application of HACCP principles, 2) awareness of quality control regulations, 3) language and literacy of employees, and size of the companies influencing implementation of HACCP, 4) quality of fish received by the companies, 5) reactive in updating knowledge regarding seafood quality and safety standards, 6) difficulties in accessing international markets, 7) company commitment, 8) effectiveness of the inspection process, 9) adequacy of government funding, and 10) costs of HACCP implementation and difficulties in objectively identifying those costs. It is hoped that the management authority would find the results from this study useful in improving the existing condition facing the sector in relation to quality and safety. In most cases, similarities in responses from both groups would form the basis for improved seafood quality and safety strategies.
