How did fishing support Kuwait’s economy before oil was discovered?

Before the discovery of oil, fishing was a leading industry in Kuwait, supported by the abundance of fish in the Persian Gulf. Alongside fishing, the economy of the region relied heavily on the pearl industry, which utilized the gulf's oyster beds and served as a thriving, profitable occupation for many centuries.12

These maritime activities were central to Kuwait’s development as a trading city during the 18th and 19th centuries. The city’s economy was built upon these pearl banks as well as long-distance sea and caravan traffic, which took advantage of its excellent sheltered harbour. While the pearl trade eventually declined due to the world economic depression and competition from cultured pearls, fishing remained a vital component of the local economy, with shrimp later becoming a significant export commodity.312