Pacific Sardine

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

• 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.

• 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.

• Southeastern Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.

• 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.

• The fishery was closed in 2015, and has not reopened.
• In 2014, more than 23,000 metric tons were harvested and were valued at $8.85 million.
• Round haul nets are used to catch Pacific sardines.
• Habitat and bycatch impacts are minimal because the gear is used at the surface around dense schools of fish, which usually contain only one species.