In a new commentary for Mongabay, PhD student Laila Shaaban explores the annual Hareed Festival in Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Islands, where thousands gather to catch longnose parrotfish during a remarkable and still poorly understood natural aggregation. Drawing on both scientific perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge, the article highlights the importance of integrating local cultural heritage with marine research to better understand and protect unique Red Sea ecosystems. The piece also reflects on the challenges of conserving these traditions and the coral reef environments on which they depend in a rapidly changing world.

Read more about the article at: 
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/06/saudi-parrotfish-festival-stretches-scientific-traditional-ecological-knowledge-commentary/