Supermarkets across the United States and parts of Europe have reported empty shelves of canned sardines. Canned sardines have long been a low‑cost protein source, but recent social media promotion of a short‑term sardine diet has increased consumer demand. The surge in purchases coincides with reduced sardine catches, attributed to warming ocean temperatures that have altered plankton distributions and forced fish to migrate to deeper waters. Fishermen in Morocco, a major supplier to North American and European markets, have documented daily hauls that are more than 50 % lower than in previous years. High fuel costs and adverse weather conditions have further limited fishing activity. In response, fishery management agencies in the United States and other countries have imposed stricter catch limits to protect wild sardine populations, limiting the ability of suppliers to increase output. Industry observers expect the supply gap to persist for several months as fish stocks rebound, though no precise timeline has been provided. The shortage highlights the impact of viral food trends on commodity markets and underscores the challenges of meeting sudden demand spikes in global seafood supply chains.