Perfect storm: how the super El Niño is devastating the fishing industry

Perú suspended its anchoveta fishing industry in June 2026, later turning a temporary halt into a full closure, as super El Niño and long-term overfishing disrupt marine conditions. Anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) account for about one-tenth of global commercial catch since 1970, making the decision economically massive. Most of the catch—over 90%—is processed into fishmeal and fish oil for aquaculture, livestock farming and supplement producers worldwide, with production concentrated off north-central Peru. The Peruvian central bank forecasts a 30.7% contraction in the fishing sector in 2026 and around 78,000 job losses, plus another 44,000 in 2027. As prices for fishmeal rise, impacts are expected far beyond Peru, including higher costs for aquaculture feed and food.