Abstract
The warm El Niño event alters the productivity, distribution, catchability, and management of Peruvian fishery resources. A systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted, complemented by a descriptive synthesis of scientific publications and official documents covering the period 2015--2026. The results revealed heterogeneous ecological and fisheries responses to warm conditions. Peruvian anchoveta exhibited coastal concentration, deeper schooling distributions, and changes in size structure, whereas jumbo flying squid, jack mackerel, and Pacific bonito showed temporary availability to certain fishing fleets. Fishery landings simultaneously reflected environmental variability, resource accessibility, fishing effort, and regulatory measures; therefore, they cannot be considered direct estimates of abundance. Strengthening adaptive, climate-responsive, and multispecies fisheries management is recommended through integrated hydroacoustic and oceanographic monitoring, dynamic spatial closures, and differentiated forecasting for coastal and offshore environments to support timely and evidence-based fisheries management decisions. The 2026 El Niño event is considered an ongoing episode.
References
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[19] Ministerio de la Producción, “Disponen la conclusión de la primera temporada de pesca 2026 del recurso anchoveta y anchoveta blanca en la zona norte-centro del Perú,” Resolución Ministerial n.º 00285-2026-PRODUCE, Lima, Perú, Aug. 20, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://busquedas.elperuano.pe/dispositivo/NL/2545518-1.
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[2] V. Échevin, F. Colas, D. Espinoza-Morriberón, L. Vásquez, T. Anculle, and D. Gutiérrez, “Forcings and evolution of the 2017 coastal El Niño off northern Peru and Ecuador,” Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 5, Art. no. 367, 2018, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00367.
[3] D. Espinoza-Morriberón, V. Échevin, F. Colas, E. Díaz, J. Tam, T. Anculle et al., “Diferencias entre los impactos en la costa peruana de los eventos ENOS cálidos y El Niño Costero 2017,” Boletín del Instituto del Mar del Perú, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 329–348, 2021, doi: 10.53554/boletin.v36i2.341.
[4] R. Castillo, L. Dalla Rosa, W. García Díaz, L. A. Madureira, M. Gutiérrez, L. Vásquez, and R. Koppelmann, “Anchovy distribution off Peru in relation to abiotic parameters: A 32-year time series from 1985 to 2017,” Fisheries Oceanography, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 389–401, 2019, doi: 10.1111/fog.12419.
[5] R. Castillo, C. Peña, D. Grados, L. La Cruz, C. Valdez, C. Pozada-Herrera, and R. Cornejo, “Characteristics of anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) schools in the optimum zone and the physiological stress zone of its distribution between 2011 and 2021,” Fisheries Oceanography, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 510–523, 2022, doi: 10.1111/fog.12601.
[6] P. R. Castillo, M. Bouchón, L. Vásquez, G. Cuadros, D. Grados, C. Valdez, and M. Pozada-Herrera, “Behaviour and size distribution of anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) under El Niño 2023 in the Northern Humboldt Current System,” Scientia Marina, vol. 89, no. 1, Art. no. e097, 2025, doi: 10.3989/scimar.05547.097.
[7] W. Yu, J. Wen, X. Chen, and B. Liu, “El Niño–Southern Oscillation impacts on jumbo squid habitat: Implication for fisheries management,” Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 2072–2083, 2021, doi: 10.1002/aqc.3584.
[8] M. Jiang, S. Dong, B. Liu, F. Zhang, and X. Chen, “Strong El Niño events reshapes migration routes and reproductive phenology of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas),” Communications Earth & Environment, vol. 7, Art. no. 514, 2026, doi: 10.1038/s43247-026-03509-9.
[9] P. Galloso, G. M. Correa, and P. Legendre, “The impacts of El Niño Southern Oscillation on the pelagic fish community structure of the northern Humboldt Current system,” Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, vol. 224, Art. no. 105553, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2025.105553.
[10] J. E. Ramos, J. Tam, V. Aramayo, F. A. Briceño, R. Bandin, B. Buitron et al., “Climate vulnerability assessment of key fishery resources in the Northern Humboldt Current System,” Scientific Reports, vol. 12, Art. no. 4800, 2022, doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-08818-5.
[11] E. Barriga, S. Campos, E. Ramos, J. Chambilla, and M. Quiroz, “Distribución de merluza peruana (Merluccius gayi peruanus) frente al litoral sur de Perú durante El Niño 2015–2016 y El Niño Costero 2017,” Boletín del Instituto del Mar del Perú, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 534–540, 2021, doi: 10.53554/boletin.v36i2.352.
[12] D. Correa, J. Castañeda, J. Castro, P. Ramírez, J. De la Cruz, S. Bances, and D. Torres, “Impacto de El Niño Costero 2017 sobre el ambiente marino y en recursos pesqueros de mayor importancia en Lambayeque (lisa, cachema y caballa),” Boletín del Instituto del Mar del Perú, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 510–523, 2021, doi: 10.53554/boletin.v36i2.350.
[13] M. Espino, “El jurel Trachurus murphyi y las variables ambientales de macroescala,” Revista Peruana de Biología, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 9–20, 2013, doi: 10.15381/rpb.v20i1.2614.
[14] D. Gutiérrez, M. Akester, and L. Naranjo, “Productivity and sustainable management of the Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem under climate change,” Environmental Development, vol. 17, pp. 126–144, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.envdev.2015.11.004.
[15] M. J. Page, J. E. McKenzie, P. M. Bossuyt, I. Boutron, T. C. Hoffmann, C. D. Mulrow et al., “The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews,” BMJ, vol. 372, Art. no. n71, 2021, doi: 10.1136/bmj.n71.
[16] S. de la Puente, R. López de la Lama, S. Benavente, J. C. Sueiro, and D. Pauly, “Growing into poverty: Reconstructing Peruvian small-scale fishing effort between 1950 and 2018,” Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 7, Art. no. 681, 2020, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00681.
[17] NOAA Climate Prediction Center, “ENSO Diagnostic Discussion,” Jul. 9, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml.
[18] Ministerio de la Producción, Anuario Estadístico Pesquero y Acuícola 2023. Lima, Perú: Oficina General de Evaluación de Impacto y Estudios Económicos, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.producempresarial.pe/anuario-estadistico-pesquero-y-acuicola-2023/.
[19] Ministerio de la Producción, “Disponen la conclusión de la primera temporada de pesca 2026 del recurso anchoveta y anchoveta blanca en la zona norte-centro del Perú,” Resolución Ministerial n.º 00285-2026-PRODUCE, Lima, Perú, Aug. 20, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://busquedas.elperuano.pe/dispositivo/NL/2545518-1.
[20] Q. Peng, S.-P. Xie, G. Passalacqua, A. Miyamoto, and C. Deser, “The 2023 extreme coastal El Niño: Atmospheric and air–sea coupling mechanisms,” Science Advances, vol. 10, no. 12, Art. no. eadk8646, 2024, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adk8646.
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