World Shark Day Highlights Whale Shark's Importance to Red Sea Ecosystem Health

   Riyadh, July 14, 2026, SPA -- World Shark Day highlights the importance of sharks as vital indicators of the health of marine ecosystems, particularly the Red Sea, which is home to several shark species, including the whale shark, classified as an endangered species.
   Four kilometers off the coast of Al-Lith Governorate lies a submerged coral reef known as Shi’b Habil. Every April and May, as the water warms and becomes rich in plankton, the reef hosts seasonal gatherings of whale sharks.
   The site has since become one of the world's most extensively studied whale shark aggregation sites, after a local dive operator guided a research team to the waters off Al-Lith, nearly 200 kilometers south of Jeddah, leading to a series of studies that documented this unique aggregation.
   The whale shark is a gentle, plankton-feeding filter feeder. It is not the Red Sea’s only shark species. These waters support other species, from gray reef sharks to hammerheads.
   Sharks are not merely part of the marine landscape; they are living indicators of its health. As apex predators, many shark species help regulate prey populations and maintain ecological balance. Their presence can indicate coral reef health.
   What makes Shi’b Habil particularly remarkable is the distinctly seasonal nature of the aggregation. The aggregation features a near-even balance of males and females, a rare characteristic among whale shark sites worldwide, where one sex typically predominates.
   Regulatory and scientific efforts play an important role in enhancing the protection of these species and their natural habitats by organizing maritime activities to achieve a balance between benefiting from marine resources and preserving the sustainability of marine ecosystems. The Saudi Red Sea Authority takes on this responsibility within a framework that balances facilitating the experience with protecting the ecosystem upon which these creatures depend for their survival.
   The whale shark continues its seasonal presence in the Red Sea's waters, a testament to the importance of preserving marine biodiversity and supporting scientific and regulatory efforts to protect the marine environment for future generations.
   -- SPA