The Sultanate of Oman has been planning and implementing several strategic initiatives for the protection of the marine environment balanced with the objective of its optimum utilization for a valuable socioeconomic return.

Globally it has been clearly recognized that knowledge, Science and technology are mainstays for the governance and management of the marine wealth and fisheries and for enabling the optimum generation of its social and economic returns and at the same time not compromising its stability and securing its sustainable productivity.
As mentioned by Fouda et al., the coastal habitats of the Sultanate of Oman are threatened by both natural and man-made impacts.

Natural impacts include coastal erosion, episodic rain which instantly kills corals and associate fauna, siltation, steadily high phytoplankton production.

Human impacts are due to many activities including coastal urban and residential development, fishing, recreation and tourism, oil and gas industry, desalination plants and others. Coral reefs have been affected by lost and abandoned nets, fishing traps, anchor damage, littering, coastal construction oil pollution and eutrophication.
Similarly mangrove has been affected by overgrazing, urbanization, coastal development and pollution. Human activities are expected to increase in the future as more large projects are either underway or planned around the major coastal cities (eg. Sur, Sohar, Salalah).

In the 20th century the global marine wealth has suffered from a tremendous damage to the global marine environments and habitats worldwide though pollution, infliction of weather disturbances and threatening of the world fisheries and the marine food web.

In the 21st Century the world is looking for rectifying the damage by reengineering the marine sector and fisheries, towards a path of prosperity and sustainability at the global, regional and local levels. The critical assessment has led to the emergence and evolution of promising governance and management concepts of the Marine sector (for eg. Integrated Coastal Management, Ecosystem approach, Management Strategy evaluation (MSE)...etc.
These implementation and execution of these promising concepts were brought to the realm of possibility through the parallel advance in scientific and technological tools which can enable monitoring and management at large spatial and temporal scales that were not possible before the emergence of these technologies (eg. ICT, GIS, satellites, real time sensory networks, acoustics...Etc.)

The advance in sciences and technologies like bioinformatics, biotechnology nanotechnology simulation modeling and design, engineering... Etc. , has opened avenues for diversified economic and commercial opportunities including aquaculture ,aquaponics , innovative food processing methods , functional food , pharmaceuticals ,natricuticals , novel enzymes and catalysts , materials and adhesives , renewable energies ..Etc
For Oman to benefit from these new developments in knowledge, science and technology, there is a critical need for holistic systems and integrative approaches based on reliable knowledge, and utilizing advanced and sophisticated scientific and technological tools that can serve the optimum utilization of the marine wealth for the sustained development of the country.

The history of Oman in the last 40 years proves that the country is capable of progressing and transforming impressively. Therefore the goals are possible and achievable through the serious dedication to advance the development of the Omani Knowledge society and the Omani knowledge citizen to realize a sustained socioeconomic development.
Accordingly the K4SD of Marine Wealth will be an opportunity for the networking of the main stakeholders creating awareness and enhancing their collaboration and integration within efficient frameworks.

Topics and Objectives of the forum

The K4SD forum is planned to be a platform for the marine wealth stakeholders in Oman addressing strategic topics including :

Stakeholders Networking & Integration: Bring together the major stakeholders to create awareness and discuss the opportunities for a better understanding and approach to the governance and management of the marine ecosystem, enabling it to yield its potential value and to face the present and future challenges, through adaptive management that includes cross-disciplinary stakeholder groups.

Knowledge Based Governance and Management : examine and discuss the governance and management methodologies for the ecosystem-oriented management , ecosystem integrity ,and biodiversity approaches , concepts of systems thinking and systems dynamics and sustainability ( for eg. ,precautionary approach, optimal yield (OY) and maximum sustainable yield (MSY) , problem/solution – driven management , ,logic framework ,emerging “best practices” , management strategy evaluation (MSE), ,modeling and scenario planning , decision support systems(DSS) , ..Etc.)

Science & Technology Tools & Infrastructure : Explore and define the array of the scientific and technological tools that can be utilized in the marine sector and fisheries, the required infrastructure and the methods of scientific and technological integration including (High End Computing (HEC) , Remote Sensing , data acquisition and processing , aquaculture systems design , subsea observatories , hazard and target detection , pollution prevention/control systems , acoustics , biosensors , simulation and virtual technologies, smart bay , Robotic Platforms …Etc .)

Knowledge Based Human Capital & Innovation : Address the requirements for the development of a knowledge based Human capital capable of understanding and applying science and technology for socioeconomic sustained development and innovation in the Marine and fisheries sector, through strengthening basic and high education , training , mentoring , R & D and innovation with the support and awareness of a knowledge based society.

Economic & Commercial Opportunities: Highlight the vast diversified and many untapped opportunities in the marine sector and fisheries which could yield a valuable economic return including ( aquaculture , aquaponics, innovative food processing , marine functional foods , pharmaceuticals , nutraceuticals , novel enzymes and catalysts , renewable energies ,materials and adhesives , marine minerals ..Etc. )