A super El Niño event is already reshaping fishing industries across the Pacific less than a month after its onset. Governments and fishers report sharp contrasts in catches, with some species thriving and others facing sharp declines.
In Peru, officials have canceled the anchovy fishing season through July to protect stocks already pushed deeper than usual by warmer waters. Vessels using sonar have located the fish more than 100 meters below the surface, beyond the reach of standard nets.
Southern California fishers, by contrast, are reporting record catches of bluefin tuna and other warm-water species that have moved closer to shore. One San Diego sportsfishing manager described the season as red-hot even before May.
The Indian government is preparing for reduced Indian mackerel yields, while local Peruvian markets have seen prices for some fish double. Economists warn that price swings for seafood products such as fish oil and animal feed are likely to follow.
Juan Carlos Sueiro of Oceana Peru noted rising vulnerability as stronger El Niños become more frequent under climate change. Scientists say each event differs, but the current pattern is already creating clear winners and losers among fishing communities.