FARASAN: Next Wednesday sees the “Hareed” Parrotfish Festival, an annual phenomenon when the colorful fish swarm off the shores of Jizan allowing hundreds of locals to wade knee-high into the waters and pluck them out by hand or net. The occasion is a highlight of the region's cultural calendar, and will be attended by Prince Muhammad Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Jizan, and other senior figures, in addition to thousands of locals. Tuesday saw the appearance of the first schools of migrating Hareed fish off the Farasan islands, as occurs each year in April. “Each school consists of between 500 and 2,500 fish, all moving in a structured fashion, with a hierarchy in place,” said Ahmad Abbas, Chairman of the Fishing Committee. Abbas said that celebrations of the occasion have been performed in the region “since olden times”. “At the end relatives give each other presents of fish they've caught, and they ‘re also given to people in need. Not a single fish is sold.” One huge catch of fish is made using a net covering an area of approximately 2,500 sq. meters. “It takes nine days and 17 fishermen to lay out the net. Once it is ready, people who have waded out to the sea move inwards, forcing the fish towards the nets,” he said. A curious feature of the parrotfish is that each shoal consists of females led by a single male who is said to jealously guard his troupe. Remarkably, when the male dies his place is taken by a female who changes color to that of a male fish and gradually turns into a full-fledged male herself. So-named due to its parrot-like colors, teeth and beak-shaped mouth, the parrotfish is known locally as the “Hareed fish”, after the local area where it proliferates. – Okaz/Saudi Gazette KEY FACTS n Parrotfish are named for their detention, which is also distinct from that of other labrids. n Their numerous teeth are arranged in a tightly-packed mosaic on the external surface of the jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak with which they rasp algae from coral and other rocky substrates. n Although they are considered to be herbivores, parrotfish eat a wide variety of reef organisms, and they are not necessarily vegetarian. n The development of parrot fish is complex and accompanied by a series of changes in color termed polychromatism. n A commercial fishery exists for some of the larger tropical species, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. n Their meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. __
