Niño bringing changes to Northern California ocean conditions and marine life

Northern California fishermen are reporting unusual ocean conditions and marine life as El Niño develops, including strong bluefin tuna activity near the surface. Dustin Barbane of D&D Fishing Company in Richmond said crews are seeing tuna feeding aggressively on the surface, “foaming” or busting up on anchovies, and catching multiple tuna in a day—up to eight—something he says is rare in the region. Commercial fisherman Dick Ogg in Bodega Bay reported rapid shifts in water temperature, unusual concentrations of anchovies, and large numbers of giant octopus turning up in pots. UC Santa Cruz oceanographer Gary Griggs linked the changes to warmer water transporting species. UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Laboratory is monitoring impacts, while Ocean Conservancy economist Anthony Rogers cited past El Niño effects, including kelp loss and harmful algal blooms during 2015–16.