World's oceans hit highest temperature on record as El Niño grows

# Why This Matters Record ocean temperatures pose an immediate threat to global food security and coastal economies. Warmer seas accelerate coral bleaching—which has already devastated fisheries in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific—while simultaneously creating conditions for more intense hurricanes and typhoons that directly endanger populated coastlines. The combination of El Niño and baseline warming also disrupts ocean currents that regulate regional climates, meaning countries like Peru face collapsed fish stocks while Southeast Asia confronts drought conditions that strain agriculture and hydroelectric power. These aren't abstract scientific measurements; they translate directly into economic loss for fishing communities, higher food prices for consumers, and increased climate migration pressure as affected regions become less habitable.