Province
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The Harrid Festival
| Artisanal Fishing is the most environmentally friendly form of commercial fishing, relying on the local knowledge and talent of individuals to ensure that fish populations are sustainable |
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There is a large artisanal fishing community in Jizan, often comprising several generations from different families from one village or town. Although many have embraced the newer technology of fiberglass boats, a large number still fish from hand-built wooden boats.
Fishing trips can last up to a week, with fishermen living and camping on the various islands in the Red Sea. The area around the Farasan Islands is a national wildlife reserve and Coast Guards monitor the fishing which can only be performed with a license. 42 different species of fish are caught commercially, with emperors being the favored catch.
A member from each village is nominated as the 'chief fisherman'. He's not only the best fisherman, but also the one who knows the most about the area. Traditional management in the Farasan Islands involves rotating fishing grounds. When catches decline from a reef, the artisanal fishermen move to another reef for several months to allow the fish population to revive. This is coordinated by the chief fishermen.
The Farasan Islands are the last place in the Kingdom where pearl shells (Pinctada radiata) are collected. Mainly elderly men dive for the pearls at a small site at Rogbain Island during the summer months. There is only one group of divers who are licensed to dive here.
To celebrate this environmentally friendly and sustainable industry, The Parrot Fishing Contest is held once a year. The contest reflects an ancient festival, 'The Harrid' which celebrated the migration of the Parrot fish which still arrive here each year in the spring to spawn.
Parrott Fish get their name from their beak like teeth and their vibrant colors. Most of them feed on the thin layers of algae which cover the coral. Divers can frequently hear them scrape or crunch as they eat. They are active during daylight hours and sleep in crevices at night.
In the past, the men of Farasan would prepare for the first parrot fishing expedition of the season with a festival of ceremonial activities and feasts. In addition, brides who have married during the year host a week-long celebration in their homes for women of the island, involving dances and singing about fishing and fertility.
The Parrot Fishing Contest is part of a week long revival of the Al Harrid festival to acknowledge those traditions and develop them with The Boat Race, The Mango Festival and the Miswak Festival |
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