Fisherfolk cut hours at sea amid Super El Niño

Small-scale fishers across the Philippines are cutting back their hours at sea as extreme heat driven by a strengthening El Niño phenomenon takes a toll on their health and daily catch, prompting calls for sustainable government adaptation measures over one-time cash subsidies.

Fisherfolk leader Aya Gatuslao said municipal fishers off the coast of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, have been forced to launch earlier in the morning and return ashore several hours ahead of schedule to avoid severe sun exposure, skin damage and heatstroke.

“Their skin is cracking, and they are prone to heatstroke. One of my members suffered eye damage from the glare of the sun reflecting off the water,” Gatuslao said. “They go out early because once it passes 9 a.m., the heat becomes painful on the skin.”

The state weather bureau earlier forecast sea surface temperatures to rise between 2 degrees Celsius and over 3 degrees Celsius above normal levels, with the warming trend projected to peak between late 2026 and the first half of 2027.

Marine scientists have warned that prolonged marine heatwaves trigger coral bleaching and disrupt fish migration and spawning patterns, reducing coastal yields.

In Nasugbu, Batangas, local sea patrol leader Marlon Limboc appealed to national authorities for alternative income programs, noting that heat-related fatalities at sea were already a risk before the current weather spike.

“Even before El Niño hit, several of our fishers had already died of heatstroke — sometimes found dead aboard their boats at sea,” Limboc said. “It is too dangerous now; they should not even attempt to venture out during peak heat.”

International marine conservation group Oceana joined coastal communities on Thursday, 12 November, in urging the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to transition away from short-term relief handouts toward long-term economic resilience.

“The impacts are already being experienced in our coastal communities, yet the government remains fixated on cash handouts and band-aid fixes over longer-term adaptation measures,” said Von Hernandez, vice president of Oceana Philippines.

Hernandez urged fisheries officials to expand investments in habitat restoration and alternative livelihoods, citing the municipality of Daram in Samar province as a model.

Local programs there have shifted fishers toward mussel farming, crab production, and salt making — allowing depleted fishing grounds to recover while providing steady household income during extreme weather events.