PRESS RELEASE N°008/98. ENFEN Sea surface temperatures have been decreasing since mid February. The thermocline is at 30 - 140 m depth, having risen 50 m on average since December 1997. Cooler southern waters are reappearing from Pisco to Chimbote in central Peru. Sealevel has fallen to +18 cm in February, down from 28 cm in January and 40 cm in December. Landings of sardine continue low, south of Chimbote. Juvenile sardines are located south of the adults. Hake fishing continues as normal. The reproductive pattern of both anchovy and sardine continues to be different from those observed normally. --based on a report by COMITÉ MULTISECTORIAL ENCARGADO DEL ESTUDIO DEL FENOMENO "EL NIÑO" <http://www.imarpe.gob.pe.