Panama’s ocean lifeline vanishes for the first time in 40 years

Every year, Panama’s Pacific coast benefits from powerful seasonal winds that drive nutrient-rich waters to the surface, sustaining fisheries and protecting coral reefs. But in 2025, for the first time in at least four decades, this crucial upwelling did not occur. Scientists suspect weakened trade winds linked to climate disruption played a role, leaving cooler waters absent and fisheries under stress.