Context:
Researchers at INCOIS, Hyderabad have linked the unusual washing ashore of sardines and jellyfish along Indian coasts to climate variability. Marine heatwaves, coastal upwelling, ocean currents and extreme weather events are altering fish behaviour and coastal ecosystems.
Explanation:
- Indian oil sardine is a small pelagic fish important for coastal fisheries, especially along the west coast of India.
- Sardines normally thrive in nutrient-rich waters created by seasonal coastal upwelling.
- Coastal upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, increasing plankton and fish availability.
- Marine heatwaves are prolonged periods of unusually high sea surface temperature.
- High Sea Surface Temperature (SST) can cause physiological stress in fish and disturb their normal movement.
- Climate variability linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects ocean temperature, currents, winds and rainfall.
- Extreme events such as cyclones can change coastal currents and push marine organisms towards the shore.
- Jellyfish blooms may increase due to warm waters, nutrient changes and reduced competition from fish.
- Such events affect marine biodiversity, fisheries, coastal livelihoods and food chains.
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