Linking observed changes in pelagic catches to temperature and oxygen in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Warming increases the metabolic rates of fishes and drives their oxygen demands above environmental supply, leading to declines in fish growth smaller population sizes. Given wide variability species' sensitivity changing temperature levels, warming limitation may be altering composition communities hence, that fisheries catches. Here, we test hypothesis temperatures shape pelagic catches Eastern Tropical Pacific. We expect under warmer conditions, will dominated by tropical species with higher less surplus for growth. To this hypothesis, combined an index physiological vulnerability exploited large (e.g. tuna billfish) ocean levels catch data from 1970 2016. found is main driver changes performance fishery, causing a significant breakpoint relationship between sea surface Ecuador Galapagos Exclusive Economic Zones. Warm anomalies due El Niño were projected cause reductions fishes, although only led during extremely warm events. Our results suggest are vulnerable future warming, as increasing frequency, duration magnitude marine heatwaves associated climate change impact composition.