INCOIS Starts El Niño Bulletins for Maritime Sectors

INCOIS starts El Niño bulletins for maritime sectors

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Battle Brief

INCOIS began specialised El Niño bulletins for maritime sectors; the first was released on 22 June 2026. The event continues and should peak from November 2026 to January 2027. Indian Ocean sea surface temperature is likely above normal until April/May 2027, with coral bleaching, marine heatwaves and lower sardine and mackerel catch risk.

Fact File

Release: 23 Jun 2026, Ministry of Earth Sciences
First bulletin: 22 Jun 2026, at INCOIS
Peak window: November 2026 to January 2027
SST outlook: Indian Ocean above normal until April/May 2027
Stress period: especially March to May 2027 in northern Indian Ocean
Next bulletin: second week of July 2026

In the news

INCOIS El Niño bulletins for maritime sectors: what happened?

El Niño warms the central-eastern Pacific. For India’s seas that can mean hotter water, stressed coral and fish that move or shrink. A specialised bulletin tells fishers and ship operators what to expect.

Northern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal) likely under thermal stress; risk of more coral bleaching and marine heatwaves.
Fish catch (especially sardine and mackerel) may fall as stock migrates or recruitment drops; fish may not reach desired sizes.
Bay of Bengal: rough sea state in the monsoon; higher chance of east-coast erosion and flooding.
Arabian Sea and west coast: calmer than usual, a wider operations window; less erosion and inundation on the west coast this monsoon.

Back Story

Who issues the bulletin?

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Operators are advised to follow INCOIS alerts and advisories.

Why examiners care

Why does INCOIS El Niño bulletins for maritime sectors matter?

Fisheries: Early warning for catch and habitat stress.
Safety: Sea-state and coastal-erosion outlook for both coasts.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on INCOIS El Niño bulletins for maritime sectors?

INCOIS specialised El Niño maritime bulletin; first on 22 Jun 2026.
Peak expected Nov 2026 to Jan 2027; Indian Ocean SST above normal until Apr/May 2027.

How to use this in Mains

GS-I Important geophysical phenomena; monsoon

As per PIB (2026-06-23): INCOIS began specialised El Niño bulletins on likely impacts on maritime sectors; the first was released on 22 June 2026 and confirms the El Niño event continues, with warning of rising sea temperatures and marine stress.
Early warnings protect fishers, ships and coastal communities.

Quotable data point
the first was released on 22 June 2026 and confirms the El Niño event continues, with warning of rising sea temperatures and marine stress.
PIB: MoES: INCOIS El Niño bulletin, 23 Jun 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

INCOIS's first specialised El Niño maritime bulletin (June 2026) said the event is expected to peak in

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB (MoES), 23 Jun 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What did INCOIS launch?

Specialised El Niño bulletins on impacts for India's maritime sectors.

When is the event expected to peak?

In the winter season, November 2026 to January 2027.

Which fish are flagged for catch risk?

Particularly sardine and mackerel, due to migration or lower recruitment.