RIYADH: The total catch from marine fisheries in Saudi Arabia reached 64,264 metric tons in 2022, representing a 1.4 percent increase compared to the previous year, official data showed.
According to the latest report released by the General Authority for Statistics, the catch from the Arabian Gulf accounted for 62.9 percent, while the Red Sea contributed 37.1 percent of the total catch.
In 2021, the total catch from marine fisheries in the Kingdom was 63,362 metric tons.
The report revealed that Saudi Arabia exported 48,000 metric tons of marine products in 2022, which signifies a 35.4 percent rise compared to the previous year.
On the other hand, the Kingdom imported 267,000 metric tons of marine products in 2022, up 2.9 percent from 2021.
GASTAT noted that traditional fisheries constituted 90.6 percent of the total catch in Saudi Arabia.
Out of these traditionally captured fisheries, the Eastern Region came first in terms of quantity at about 40,417 metric tons, followed by Jazan region with a quantity of 8,199 metric tons, the report added.
According to GASTAT, shrimps accounted for the highest percentage of total catches in the Kingdom at 18.3 in 2022, which is quantified at 11,756 metric tons, followed by lethrinus nebulosus at 10.3 percent.
On the other hand, bagrus made up 9 percent of total catches in the Kingdom, which accounted for about 5,809 metric tons.
In October 2023, Saudi Arabia had affirmed its commitment to protecting sustainable fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishermen and investing in aquaculture projects.
The Kingdom also committed to establishing regulatory frameworks and management plans for its fishing industry.
Speaking at the MedFish4Ever conference in October, Mansour Al-Mushaiti, Saudi deputy minister of environment, water and agriculture, said that the Kingdom has launched several initiatives to promote sustainable fishing practices.
He added that Saudi Arabia bears the responsibility of coordinating efforts for the effective management of natural resources in the Red Sea, given that it possesses the largest coastal area among its neighbors.
The deputy minister further revealed that the national aquaculture production in 2022 exceeded 120,000 tons, and the Kingdom is aiming to increase it to roughly 500,000 tons of fish.
