Oman Signs Deal for New Tech System to Track Fishing Boats

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Oman has signed a new agreement with Future Cities Company “Tadum” to run an advanced system that will track all fishing boats in the country. The agreement was signed by Dr. Saud Hamoud Al Habsi from the Ministry and Eng. Abdullah Rashid Al Badi, the CEO of Tadum. The project is an important national step to protect marine life and make the fishing sector more organised through modern technology that allows 24-hour monitoring of boat movements. It will also help officials handle sea emergencies quickly and more effectively.

The new system aims to create a complete national platform that shows real-time movements of fishing boats, including their routes and sailing patterns. This information will help the ministry understand fishing activity better and plan more accurate policies for managing fisheries. It will also protect fish stocks by quickly identifying violations and stopping illegal activities at the exact locations where they occur.

The project also improves maritime safety by reducing risks at sea and making search and rescue operations faster. In case of an emergency, the system sends instant information to the operations room. All traditional fishing boats will be included in stages to ensure full and organised coverage across Oman’s fishing fleet. The technology uses a coastal LoRaWAN network that reaches up to 40 kilometres and may extend to 70 kilometres in some areas. It is also supported by satellite links to keep data flowing even in far-off marine locations. The system records details such as location, speed, direction, stop status, emergency alerts, and any tampering with the device, giving an accurate picture of the boat’s activity at all times.

For fishermen, the project adds strong safety benefits. A special emergency button allows them to send a direct alert if something goes wrong at sea. The detailed trip record also helps prevent boats from being lost and provides an official digital history that can be used whenever needed. For the ministry, the system will strengthen fisheries monitoring, help create better fishing rules, fight illegal fishing, and support national maritime security by linking directly with emergency and risk-management authorities.

The agreement supports Oman’s broader plan to move towards digital transformation in the maritime sector. The new system will help government bodies improve safety, offer better services to fishermen, and protect the marine environment with modern, reliable technology.