El Niño may affect small pelagic fish catch, says fishers group

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The potentially strong El Niño may affect fishing activities, including the catch of small pelagic fishes, a fishers group said on Wednesday.

“Basically, it is possible that the fishing catch will change. But for now, it is still in normal conditions,” said Association of Fresh Fish Traders of the Philippines president Jonjon Santos in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB in Filipino.

“The most affected will be the small pelagics, such as the galunggong (round scad), sardines. They are very sensitive to temperatures, the so-called water column,” he added.

El Niño occurs when sea surface temperature rises, according to PAGASA.

The state weather bureau earlier said that average temperature across the Philippines is set to rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius during the weather phenomenon.

Citing the 1983 strong El Niño, the group said that fish production dropped significantly after a year.

“So it means that for small fish, the water column or thermocline can be strong,” said Santos.

The group said that it has yet to monitor any cases of unwarranted price increase in fish products as it is closed fishing season.

“When November comes, until February, you know, we are in closed fishing season. So there is no production,” said Santos. —RF, GMA News