Names
Scientific name: Scaridae
Internationally, it is referred to as the Parrotfish. In the UAE, it is known as Gain (قين).
Parrotfish Shape and color
The Parrotfish has a long and elongated thick body, that is rich in bright and vibrant colors (mainly blue, green, or red). As the name suggests, Parrotfish have a hard parrot-like beak, used to rasp algae from rocks and corals
A small parrotfish! Credits to Haleigh - Instagram @hb.fishing__
Parrotfish Habitat
Parrotfish are commonly found in deep waters, swimming close to offshore coral reefs. Interestingly, when a Parrotfish sleeps (usually between the rocks of a coral reef), it creates a mucus cocoon surrounding its body, protecting itself from parasites as it sleeps in peace.
Parrotfish Feeding
Parrotfish feast on algae typically living inside coral polyps. To do so, Parrotfish bite off corals and grind them using the teeth in their throat (yes, you read that correctly). Notably, Parrotfish spend nearly 90% of their day eating (what a way to spend the day!).
Parrotfish Fishing Season in the UAE
Parrotfish are frequently encountered on Fujairah fishing trips (i.e., UAE east coast fishing trips), and are not likely to be encountered during Dubai fishing trips. Parrotfish are common throughout the year.
Parrotfish Fishing Method (How to Catch Parrotfish)
In the UAE, Parrotfish are mainly caught using fish traps (locally known as Gargoor). They are also commonly targeted during spearfishing, as their big bodies make them easy targets.
Fun facts about Parrotfish
Parrotfish Minimum Legal Length: There is no minimum legal length.
Fishing Status: Not banned
<p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-3o c2-5b c2-5e" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><strong class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-2b c2-5b" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit;">Names</strong></u></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Scientific name: Scaridae</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Internationally, it is referred to as the Parrotfish. In the UAE, it is known as Gain (قين). </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><br></p><hr class="x-el x-el-hr c2-1 c2-2 c2-5f c2-5g c2-5h c2-25 c2-2y c2-k c2-3 c2-4 c2-5 c2-6 c2-7 c2-8" style="box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(226, 226, 226); border-image: initial; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; width: 676.328px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><p><br></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><u class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-3o c2-5b c2-5e" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: underline;"><strong class="x-el x-el-span c2-3i c2-3j c2-3 c2-5a c2-3r c2-2b c2-5b" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; text-transform: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit;">Parrotfish Shape and color</strong></u></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; color: rgb(94, 94, 94); font-family: Lato, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Parrotfish has a long and elongated thick body, that is rich in bright and vibrant colors (mainly blue, green, or red). As the name suggests, Parrotfish have a hard parrot-like beak, used to rasp algae from rocks and corals</span></p>
A small parrotfish! Credits to Haleigh - Instagram @hb.fishing__
Parrotfish Habitat
Parrotfish are commonly found in deep waters, swimming close to offshore coral reefs. Interestingly, when a Parrotfish sleeps (usually between the rocks of a coral reef), it creates a mucus cocoon surrounding its body, protecting itself from parasites as it sleeps in peace.
Parrotfish Feeding
Parrotfish feast on algae typically living inside coral polyps. To do so, Parrotfish bite off corals and grind them using the teeth in their throat (yes, you read that correctly). Notably, Parrotfish spend nearly 90% of their day eating (what a way to spend the day!).
Parrotfish Fishing Season in the UAE
Parrotfish are frequently encountered on Fujairah fishing trips (i.e., UAE east coast fishing trips), and are not likely to be encountered during Dubai fishing trips. Parrotfish are common throughout the year.
Parrotfish Fishing Method (How to Catch Parrotfish)
In the UAE, Parrotfish are mainly caught using fish traps (locally known as Gargoor). They are also commonly targeted during spearfishing, as their big bodies make them easy targets.
Fun facts about Parrotfish
Parrotfish Minimum Legal Length: There is no minimum legal length.
Fishing Status: Not banned