El Niño declared, prompting fishing bans in Peru and strong tuna catches off California

El Niño conditions have prompted Peru's government to cancel the April-to-July anchovy fishing season. Officials cited concerns that warmer waters have driven anchovies deeper than standard nets can reach. The same pattern has led Indian officials to prepare for reduced Indian mackerel harvests.

In Southern California, recreational and commercial fishers have recorded some of their highest tuna catches in years.

Niño occurs every two to seven years when trade winds weaken and warm surface water stays near South America. The shift reduces nutrient upwelling that normally supports algae and the fish that feed on it. Anchovies and other species that rely on surface algae move to deeper water, making them harder to catch and sometimes shrinking their populations.

Warm-water species such as skipjack tuna move closer to the Americas, increasing availability near shore.

Effects on markets and fishers Seafood prices have already risen in some Peruvian markets, with jack mackerel and corvina doubling in price. Wild salmon in North American waters have been reported thinner, raising dock prices that can reach retail customers.

Fishers in affected regions face unstable catches and may need to switch target species or locations. Consumers can expect continued price swings for anchovy-based fish oil and animal feed. "People are worried," said Juan Carlos Sueiro, an economist and fisheries director for the nonprofit Oceana Peru.