Alaska Marine Heatwaves Devastate Key Capelin Populations Threatening Entire Arctic Food Web

UNITED STATES
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

Sharp declines in energy-rich forage fish leave predators with less than 1 percent of historical food supply during warm-water anomalies JUNEAU, Alaska — Recent marine heatwaves in Alaska have triggered a dramatic collapse in capelin populations, fundamentally altering the dynamics of high-latitude marine ecosystems. Often referred to as the "sea canary" of the ocean, the small forage fish serves as a vital indicator of ecological health, and its sudden decline has left major predators on the brink of starvation. A multi-decade study spanning from 2002 to 2022 reveals that rising ocean temperatures have severely disrupted capelin abundance, distribution, and body composition. Commercial fish species such as salmon and halibut, alongside whales, seals, sea lions, and seabirds, heavily rely on these energy-dense schooling fish for survival. Not all prey ... FULL STORY