Jazan: Fishermen in Jazan Region embody the living memory of the sea. Their relationship with the waves has never been merely a source of livelihood, but a long-standing story shaped by the seasons, preserved by the islands, and passed down through generations.

According to Saudi Press Agency, over the years, fishermen have learned to read the sea through experience, navigating its seasons and routes with knowledge accumulated through memory until the waters became as familiar to them as the roads leading to their homes.

Among those who have lived the sea through both experience and intuition is fisherman Mohammed Ibrahim Shahhar, whose name has become closely associated with the Farasan Islands.

He first traveled to Al-Badrah Island more than 50 years ago from Jizan, at a time when the island was quieter and more isolated, known mainly to fishermen who regarded the sea as their home and the islands as temporary stations for sustenance and rest.

Shahhar continues to navigate between fishing grounds he has known for decades, identifying them through changes in water color, wind direction, and wave movement. His maritime knowledge is rooted more in long experience than modern technology. For him, the sea is not an open expanse, but a living map preserved in memory.

Despite advances in navigation tools and modern monitoring systems in the fishing profession, Shahhar remains deeply connected to traditional methods of seafaring. He reads the waters with the eye of an expert and measures the wind with the instinct of a veteran fisherman, believing the sea does not grant its sustenance all at once and that patience has always been part of the journey.

Shahhar continues his familiar voyage between Jizan and Al-Badrah, returning to the sea each time as though returning to a part of his life. For him, the islands remain more than fishing stations; they are places that preserve a lifetime of labor, companionship, and stories.