Warm Water Is Bringing Tropical Sharks and Sea Snakes to California
Sea turtles nested in the state for the first time, and boats from Dana Wharf went from two yellowfin tuna to 5,000.
Reuters World News · Trump drops Russia sanctions, Israeli settlers attack US photojournalist, Oregon police say teacher and parent stopped school shooterA hammerhead swimming near Santa Barbara, large groups of giant devil rays moving through the water around Catalina Island, and a whale shark, the biggest fish in the world, seen in Southern California waters would each be unusual on its own. This year, they all showed up together.
The main cause is water temperature. El Nino arrives every few years as a natural warming of ocean water, said Dan Trotter, a reporter following marine life along the California coast. This one is a little stronger than average, and it follows an extended marine heatwave, a long period when the ocean stayed unusually warm. The extra warmth is drawing tropical animals north into waters that are normally too cool for them.
Some had never been recorded in California before, including a fish known as the longfin bigeye and sea turtles discovered building nests in the state for the first time on record, which suggests the animals may be settling in. A yellow-bellied sea snake, a venomous snake with fangs that normally lives farther south, also swam ashore in Orange County.
The shift is so clear that fishermen can count it. Donna Callas, who runs a sport fishing and whale watching business at Dana Wharf, said her boats brought in 5,000 yellowfin tuna this summer, compared with only two last year. Now they are catching dorado, which Callas described as exciting because the fish are acrobatic and jump out of the water.
The sightings suggest that warm water is letting tropical species move farther north than usual, and the turtle nests will be worth watching to see whether the newcomers stay.
Questions people ask
What exactly is El Niño?
El Niño is a natural climate pattern in which warm water spreads across the eastern Pacific, raising ocean temperatures and shifting weather. It typically recurs every two to seven years and lasts about nine to twelve months. It can bring warmer water and storms to California and drier conditions elsewhere.
Is the yellow-bellied sea snake dangerous to beachgoers?
Yes, it is highly venomous, with venom that attacks nerves and muscles. But it is shy, rarely bites people, and cannot easily open its small mouth wide enough to bite a limb. Most bites happen when fishermen handle snakes caught in nets.
Will these tropical animals stay off California?
Most will likely move back south or die off as the water cools, as has happened after past El Niños. But repeated heatwaves can help some species establish lasting populations. Sea turtle nesting is closely watched because it would signal a longer term range expansion.