Four Omani fishermen, including three brothers, who went missing from Suwaiq, North Batinah, returned home after three days on Sunday night.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, Mohammed al Salihi, head of the fisheries department at the Directorate of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Suwaiq, said, “The four fishermen, Adam bin Abdullah al Shayadi, Abdul-Majid bin Abdullahal Shayadi, Hani bin Abdullah al Shayadi and Essam bin Ali al Souli set off on a fishing trip from Suwaiq on November 18. Unfortunately, their boat engine failed. Without any satellite device to contact home, and not enough fuel, they rowed aimlessly for almost three days.”
He informed that an Omani fishing boat passing by rescued them and alerted the authorities and the fishermen’s relatives. “They were found in the sea off Musannah, 50 nautical miles away.”
Addressing the issue of frequent reports of missing fishermen in recent times, he said,
“Unfortunately, some fishermen do not follow the marine safety instructions. Some fishermen go to the high seas without studying the area and safety equipment, such as first aid kit, life jackets, a paddle in the event of an engine failure, fireproof blanket, lamps, navigation device and tools for maintenance.”
About the ministry’s efforts to ensure fishermen’s safety, Salihi said, “The ministry’s specialists hold workshops throughout the year for fishermen to raise awareness on the importance of following safety instructions.”
According to Salihi, specialists also conduct campaigns among fishermen to choose the appropriate safety equipment, and hold training programmes to help ensure fish quality by proper storage of catch.