Peru Cancels Anchovy Fishing Season as El Niño Shifts Catches

Peruvian government officials canceled the April-to-July anchovy fishing season with an indefinite ban. The move followed reports that anchovies had moved more than 100 meters below the surface, beyond the reach of standard 50-meter purse seine nets. The Indian government is preparing for smaller Indian mackerel harvests.

In Southern California, recreational and commercial fishers recorded nearly 300,000 more bluefin tuna caught in the first half of the year than in the same period last year. Wired reported that El Niño weakens trade winds and reduces upwelling of nutrient-rich water.

Anchovies and other species dependent on surface algae must dive deeper or migrate, while warm-water species such as bluefin tuna move closer to the California coast.

Prices for jack mackerel and corvina in Peruvian markets have doubled, leading some families to buy more chicken. Humberto Speziani, a Peruvian industrial fishing adviser, confirmed sonar detections of anchovies at depths unreachable by normal nets.

Arnaud Bertrand, a senior scientist at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, noted that Humboldt squid yields of half a million tons per year for artisanal fishers could decline, pushing unregulated vessels toward other species.

A San Diego-based sportsfishing company manager stated on YouTube at the end of April: “We’ve got yellowfin, we’ve got bluefin, yellowtail, and dorado. What else can you ask for? ” Wired reported that high winds and heavy rainfall during El Niño can hinder shipping and damage onshore processing facilities, limiting any gains from alternative species.