Thursday, the Panama Canal Authority announced that daily ship traffic will be cut beginning September 3 because of a drought intensified by the El Niño weather pattern.

The canal links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and carries roughly five percent of global maritime trade and about 40 percent of United States container traffic.

Starting with 36 vessels allowed per day, the daily limit will drop to 34 on September 3 and to 32 on September 15.

The authority has lowered the maximum draft for the largest ships and is applying additional water‑conservation measures to preserve water levels.

Honduras placed 80 percent of its territory on drought alert on Wednesday.

The current El Niño episode is expected to rank among the strongest on record, according to the authority.

The canal operator said the reductions are intended to ensure the long‑term sustainability of the waterway.