Global Fisheries Disrupted: Peru Halts Anchovy Fishing as California Sees More Tuna
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Climate change & international agreements· Prelims·
Why in news
A 'super' El Niño event is disrupting global fisheries, causing a collapse in Peruvian anchovy yields while increasing tuna catches in California.
Background
El Niño is a Pacific weather pattern occurring every 2-7 years characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures. It disrupts 'upwelling'—the process where trade winds bring nutrient-dense cold water to the surface—leading to reduced algae growth and migration of fish species.
Facts for Prelims
- S&TEl Niño: Characterized by the weakening of trade winds and the warming of sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
- EnvironmentUpwelling: The process of cold, nutrient-dense water rising from the depths to the surface, essential for supporting primary productivity like algae.
- FactAnchovies: A primary source of fish oil and animal feed globally, heavily impacted by El Niño-induced migration.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how climate-induced shifts in marine ecosystems, such as El Niño, pose a threat to global food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Economic instability: Volatility in global seafood prices and export revenues due to species-specific migration patterns.
- Ecological vulnerability: Reduced primary productivity from suppressed upwelling affecting marine biodiversity and food chains.
- Livelihood displacement: Necessity for fishers to adopt seasonal diversification as traditional fishing grounds become unproductive.
Keywords: El Niño · Upwelling · Marine Biodiversity · Food Security · Climate Vulnerability
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.