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09-04-2019

Oman News Agency

Muscat: A student research group at the Department of Marine Science and Fisheries of the College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University achieved successful hatching trial for the electric blue crayfish.

The experiment took place in the Department of Marine Science at SQU under the supervision of Dr. Gilha Yoon. The experiments were performed by the student research group setting the

breeding system for the crayfish together with the hatchery, breeding behaviours and all the proper environmental factors.

The electric blue crayfish is one of the most remarkable freshwater ornamental species. It has an amazing splash of brilliant blue colour that is sure to draw attention to aquarists making them very sought after in the ornamental fish industry. However, all the crayfish coming into Oman are all imported from many countries and their price is approximately OMR 10 per adult crayfish pair, when purchased from pet shops.

This trial is very important, according to the leader of the research group, Maryam Al-Sawafi.

“As far as I know this is the first hatching trial of the Electric blue crayfish in Oman," she said. "By this trial, we seek to help the ornamental industry to prosper, because whenever you go to any ornamental fish shop, you notice that most of the species are either exported from outside or they are wild. We really want to help the Omani aquaculture industry to expand diversity of income sources,”