By Zoila Palma: Fishermen along Latin America’s Pacific coast are struggling with sharply reduced catches as unusually warm ocean temperatures, intensified by El Niño, push tuna, anchovies and other fish species toward cooler waters.
From Ecuador and Peru to Panama and Guatemala, some small-scale fishermen have stopped going to sea altogether as catches decline close to shore, with ocean temperatures in some areas reaching as much as six degrees Celsius above normal.
In Ecuador’s southwestern fishing port of Santa Rosa, fisherman Juan Ollague said that after spending a night at sea, he returned with just six small tuna, AFP reports.
Fellow fisherman Darwin Zambrano said catches of larger tuna such as albacore and bonito have declined significantly in recent weeks. Oceanographer Jonathan Cedeno said sea surface temperatures off Ecuador have increased by 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius, while temperatures at a depth of 40 meters have risen by as much as six degrees over the past 10 weeks.
The effects are also being felt across Central America. In Panama, fishermen say they are traveling farther from shore, increasing expenses for fuel, food and ice needed to preserve their catch. Some have decided to remain in port because they can no longer cover their operating costs.
In Guatemala, fisherman Eliseo Ovando said it now takes three days to catch what he previously caught in one day, while in Peru, some fishermen who depend on anchovies have reportedly turned to construction work to support their families.
The decline in catches is also creating economic ripple effects in fishing communities and markets. Vendors in Panama report receiving smaller quantities of fish, while in Ecuador, prices for mahi-mahi and swordfish have reportedly doubled amid shortages.
The post International News: Empty nets as El Niño drives fish into cooler waters across Latin America appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Fishermen along Latin America’s Pacific coast are struggling with sharply reduced catches as unusually warm ocean temperatures, intensified by El Niño, push tuna, anchovies and other fish species toward cooler waters. From Ecuador and Peru to Panama and Guatemala, some small-scale fishermen have stopped going to sea altogether as catches decline close
The post International News: Empty nets as El Niño drives fish into cooler waters across Latin America appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
