The volume of by-products produced by the shrimp industry in the Sultanate of Oman is approximately 6,000 tonnes annually, posing environmental risks while representing a lost economic opportunity. These by-products, contain a lot of chitin that can also play an important role in the Oman’s Vision 2040, as far as the circular economy and economic diversification are concerned. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys of 373 fishermen and qualitative interviews with five, to evaluate the sector's readiness, current preservation and extraction practices, and the key barriers hindering valorization.

The quantitative survey of 373 fishermen and qualitative interview of five production managers, The mixed-methods approach used in this study represents a key methodological strength, as it enables a comprehensive understanding by integrating quantitative and qualitative insights. The quantitative findings indicated that the mean scores of capacity (mean = 3.18), waste conservation (mean = 3.23), and extraction capacity (mean = 3.04) are not high, and this is very opposite to the high level of perceived barriers (mean = 3.57). These qualitative data support a high preference for freeze-drying as the method of preserving the quality of chitin that is economical but viable in comparison with other less efficient techniques, such as hot air drying (60 o C). Other environmental issues that have been linked with the practice of chemical extraction include wastewater pollution. These obstacles are the absence of a regulatory environment and insufficient financing. In conclusion, technological, regulatory, and financial barriers restrict the use of shrimp by-products in Oman. It suggests what is to be recommended on how to develop an effective regulatory framework to provide support on high-tech dry processing (freeze-drying), to invest in research to develop other more sustainable extraction methods (enzymatic hydrolysis), and to convert this waste source into a strategic resource.