Question

Why do Peruvian fisheries decline - often dramatically - in El Niño years?

a) Due to increased fish population during El Niño.
b) Because warmer waters drive fish away from the coast.
c) Fishermen go on strike during El Niño.
d) Improved fishing technologies in El Niño years.

Answer 1

Peruvian fisheries decline in El Niño years due to warmer waters driving the fish away from the coast.

Step-by-step explanation:

The decline in Peruvian fisheries during El Niño years is mainly due to warmer waters driving the fish away from the coast. During El Niño events, a band of warm ocean water develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific, including off the Pacific coast of South America. This warm water replaces the cold water rich in sea life in the Andean coast, leading to die-offs of fish and marine mammals. The shift in water temperatures and currents disrupts the food chain, affecting the quantity and availability of fish.