JEDDAH: The Red Sea hosts over 40 shark species, making it one of the region’s most biologically diverse marine environments. Their presence is a key indicator of healthy waters and balanced ecosystems, according to the Red Sea Authority.
Silky sharks, a large pelagic species common around offshore reefs and drop-offs, occupy a critical space between reef and open-ocean ecosystems. Among the most heavily harvested sharks in the region and globally, they are a growing conservation concern.
Though often solitary, silky sharks form seasonal aggregations of 20 or more at a few Red Sea sites, including locations in Sudan, Yemen, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Surveys at the Jeddah site, dating to the 1990s, show significant population declines.
Did you know?
Only a small fraction of critical shark habitats are protected.
