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Species Directory

Pacific Sardine

Overview Resources

Pacific Sardine

Sardinops sagax caerulea

pacific_sardine.png
Also Known As
Pilchard, California sardine, California pilchard, Sardina, Sardine

Quick Facts

Region
West Coast
Fish Watch. U.S. Seafood Facts Logo
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About The Species

Commercial fishing for Pacific sardines is prohibited because the population is estimated to be below a precautionary level set by managers.

Population Status Icon

Population Level

Significantly below target population levels.

Fishing Status Icon

Fishing Status

The fishery is closed because the population is estimated to be below a precautionary level set by managers.

Habitat Impacts Icon

Habitat Impacts

The gear used to catch Pacific sardines is used at the surface and has little impact on habitat.

Bycatch Icon

Bycatch

Bycatch is low because gear used is selective.

Status

  • According to the 2019 stock assessment, Pacific sardine are overfished, and are not subject to overfishing.
  • The population size varies naturally, which can lead to large fluctuations (boom-bust cycles) in abundance and catch.
  • A precautionary measure is built into sardine management to stop directed fishing when the population falls below 150,000 metric tons. The latest population estimate is below that level, and managers have closed the fishery.

Appearance

  • Pacific sardines are small.
  • They are blue-green on the back and have white flanks with one to three sets of dark spots along the middle.

Biology

  • Pacific sardines are fast growing and can grow to more than 12 inches long.
  • They can live up to 13 years, but usually not past 5.
  • They reproduce at age 1 or 2, depending on conditions.
  • Pacific sardines spawn multiple times per season.
  • Females release eggs that are fertilized externally and hatch in about 3 days.
  • Pacific sardines feed on plankton (tiny floating plants and animals).
  • They are prey for many fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.

Where They Live

  • Southeastern Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.

Management

  • NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Pacific sardine fishery.
  • Managed under the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan:
    • Catch limits are in place to prevent overfishing.
    • Catch limit is allocated among three fishing seasons throughout the year.
    • Permits are needed to harvest Pacific sardines.
    • Gear restrictions are in place to reduce bycatch.
    • Catch is monitored through logbooks and observers.

Featured News

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Feature Story

Saildrone Launch Begins Test to Improve West Coast Fisheries Surveys

West Coast
View More News

Recreational Fishing Regulations

Commercial Fishing Regulations

Subsistence Fishing Regulations

Science Overview

Documents

Document

Proceedings of the 2019 Trinational Sardine & Small Pelagics Forum

Proceedings of the 20th Annual Trinational Sardine and Small Pelagics Forum (TSF) held on December…

West Coast
Document

Assessment of the Pacific Sardine Resource in 2020 for U.S. Management IN 2020-2021

An assessment of the Pacific sardine resource in support of the Pacific Fishery Management Council …

West Coast
More Documents

Research

Southwest Fisheries Science Center Stock Assessments

Population assessments are a key component of marine resource management. These assessments allow us to evaluate and report the status of managed fisheries, marine mammals, and endangered/threatened species under the authorities of the Magnuson-Stevens…

West Coast

Trinational Sardine and Small Pelagics Forum

The Trinational Sardine and Small Pelagics Forum comprises sectors of government, academia, and industry from Mexico, Canada, and the United States to collaborate in improving coast-wide stock assessments.

West Coast

Fisheries Oceanography in the California Current

The Fisheries Oceanography Program, composed with the Ichthyoplankton Ecology and Ship Operations groups, work to contribute to the understanding of the effects of climate change and climate variability on pelagic fisheries, with a primary focus on the…

West Coast

Experimental Aquarium at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center

The aquarium at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center facilitates research across many species, including the endangered black and white abalone.

West Coast
More Research
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