INCOIS releases first specialized El Niño bulletin for India's maritime sectors
INCOIS released its first specialized El Niño bulletin for maritime operators at an event at INCOIS on 22 June 2026, warning of higher sea temperatures and marine thermal stress.
Summary
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) released its first specialized El Niño bulletin for maritime sectors on 22 June 2026, at an event held at INCOIS where Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy released the bulletin. The INCOIS bulletin says the El Niño event is expected to peak in November 2026–January 2027 and that Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures will stay above normal until April/May 2027, with thermal stress in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal especially in March–May 2027. INCOIS warns of more coral bleaching, marine heatwaves and lower sardine and mackerel catches, rough seas and coastal erosion on the east coast, and a calmer Arabian Sea on the west coast.
Key facts
- Released
- 22 June 2026, at INCOIS, by MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy
- El Niño peak
- November 2026–January 2027
- Warm SST until
- April/May 2027
- Peak thermal stress
- March–May 2027
- Fisheries risk
- Lower sardine and mackerel catch
- Next bulletin
- Second week of July 2026
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to INCOIS's first specialized El Niño bulletin (22 June 2026), when is the El Niño event expected to peak?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — November 2026–January 2027
The bulletin says El Niño is expected to peak in winter, November 2026 to January 2027; marine thermal stress peaks in March–May 2027.
Which fish species did INCOIS's first El Niño bulletin (22 June 2026) flag for a likely reduction in catch?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Sardine and mackerel
The bulletin warned of reduced fish catch, particularly sardine and mackerel, due to stock migration or lower recruitment.
Consider the following statements about INCOIS's El Niño bulletin of 22 June 2026: 1. The sea state in the Arabian Sea and on the west coast is likely to be calmer than usual. 2. Coastal erosion and flooding are likely to decrease on the east coast during the monsoon. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the Bay of Bengal will stay rough, with chances of increased coastal erosion and flooding on the east coast; erosion is likely to be less on the west coast.