PDO 45th National Day gift to the nation: Oman’s first aquarium

By A Staff Reporter — MUSCAT — Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) announced it is to build Oman’s first aquarium as a Gift to the Nation to mark the 45th anniversary of His Majesty the Sultan’s reign next year. Work will start on the RO 7.5 million Marine Fish Aquarium and Educational Centre at Seeb harbour this year and the complex will spread over approximately 17,000m2. The futuristic building, PDO’s largest Gift to the Nation investment, will showcase the rich biodiversity, habitats and species found in the Sultanate’s waters and aims to appeal to both international tourists as well as Omani citizens. There will be a range of features including specialised viewing tanks, interactive activities and guided tours. Another central aspect of the building will be a research division for all fisheries studies by Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries staff, universities and other specialists.

PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to the scheme with His Excellency Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, today. The ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas. Restucci said: “In honour of the 45th anniversary of His Majesty’s inspirational rule, we are delighted to build on our partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to construct Oman’s first aquarium — our sixth Gift to the Nation. “The centre will focus on the Sultanate’s marine ecosystems and ecology, and the sustainability of these resources and how they can be safeguarded for the future. The aim is to stock many of the more than 1,000 species which are in Omani waters in an installation which will be interesting, fun and informative.

Untitled-1“One of the key aims is to enable children to experience and learn more about the country’s maritime heritage, its rich marine environment and the importance of the sea to the nation. We aim to strike a good balance between entertainment and education.” There will be five sections in the aquarium: World of Oceans and Seas; Coastlines and Seas of Oman; Fishing and Maritime Heritage of Oman; PDO Marine History and Operations; and Oman Marine Life and Habitat. It is intended that the building will have a cylindrical viewing tower finished with photovoltaic panels to provide some solar and wind-power energy to the complex. It will be set towards the north end of the reclaimed land at the Seeb marina, facing the proposed Fish Market. As well as the main aquarium, there will also be a restaurant with sea view, retail space and a car park.

The official signing ceremony took place at the Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre (OGEC) in Mina Al Fahal (MAF), which PDO donated as a Gift to the Nation in 1995. The Company has a long tradition of marking every five years of His Majesty’s rule with such endowments and other Gifts include the Planetarium (2000) and the EcOman Centre (2010), the Public Knowledge Library (1990), which was handed over to the Diwan of Royal Court in 1996 and the Traffic Safety Institute (2005) which was presented to the Royal Oman Police. PDO External Affairs Director Abdul-Amir al Ajmi said: “The aquarium will offer an outstanding visitor and educational experience, in the same way our Trio Centre (the OGEC, EcOman and Planetarium) currently does.

“PDO has a long association with the sea, as all of the country’s export crude oil passes through the MAF terminal. We have endeavoured at all times to protect our marine environment and this complex will promote those efforts as well as showcase the glorious, magical world of Oman’s seas.” Earlier this year, the Company launched a high-level campaign, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard, to raise awareness among fishermen of the dangers of operating in and around the MAF port area. It has also signed another MoU with the ministry covering the construction of a breakwater in Darsait and the rehabilitation of the coast at Aint. In 2012, PDO also paid for the deployment of 300 reef balls at sea to increase the size and diversity of fishermen’s catches.

Wednesday 21st, May 2014 / 23:39 Written by Oman Observer in Local, Main