RIYADH: World Shark Day is drawing attention to the crucial role sharks play in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, with the Red Sea providing an important refuge for several species, including the endangered whale shark, according to a report carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
One of the Red Sea’s most significant marine habitats lies at Shi’b Habil, a submerged coral reef about four kilometers off the coast of Al-Lith Governorate, nearly 200 kilometers south of Jeddah.
Each year during April and May, warming waters and abundant plankton attract seasonal gatherings of whale sharks to the reef, creating one of the world’s best-documented aggregation sites for the species.
The site gained international scientific prominence after a local dive operator guided researchers to the waters off Al-Lith, leading to a series of studies documenting the unique seasonal congregation.
Rare seasonal gathering
