In Peru, anchovies are being forced to dive deeper than usual due to the “super” El Niño weather pattern, while in Southern California, tuna fishing is booming. This divergent impact on global fisheries highlights how climate change could intensify such unpredictability.

The upwelling process that brings nutrients to the surface and supports anchovies is being slowed by weaker trade winds, making these fish harder to catch and potentially impacting populations. Simultaneously, skipjack tuna are venturing into warmer waters closer to land in a strange twist of nature’s whims.

In Peru, the government has banned fishing for anchovies during the April-to-July season, but commercial vessels using sonar technology have found them over 100 meters down. This could lead to higher prices and consumers buying more chicken instead of jack mackerel or corvina.

While Southern California fishers are celebrating record bluefin tuna catches, artisanal fishers in South America may not fully benefit from these changes due to high winds and heavy rainfall complicating their operations. The impact extends beyond economics, with El Niño threatening coral reefs and kelp forests, potentially fueling geopolitical conflicts over fishing rights.