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Sardine, European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus)

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Common name - Sardine, European pilchard
Scientific name - Sardina pilchardus
Rating
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Caught at sea Pelagic trawl, Purse seine
Capture Area Eastern Central Atlantic  FAO 34
Stock Area Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal
Stock Detail All Areas
Summary
The stocks in this area are in a healthy state. Current fishing practice does not appear to be detrimental to the stock, however there is no catch control in the management and misreporting of landings is a cause for concern, thus management is inadequate. For a stock that crosses national boundaries and is susceptible to large fluctuations (due to climatic variations), more comprehensive and joint management would be highly beneficial.
Biology
Pilchard is a pelagic shoaling fish and a member of the herring family. It is widely distributed in European seas, reaching the northward limit of its range in the vicinity of the British Isles. It spawns in spring and summer in the open sea. After spawning they migrate northwards to their feeding grounds and are then found inshore in coastal waters. In winter they migrate southwards. Pilchards can attain a length of about 25cm. Maximum reported age is 15 years.Young pilchard are often referred to as sardine.
Stock Information
The stock in this area is in a healthy state and is above both limit and target reference points, with the stock currently classed as under-exploited. However, misreporting of catches (up to 38%) does suggest some uncertainty.
Capture Information
Purse seining is a method that targets whole shoals of fish. The net is deployed in such a way that it encircles the shoal. The lead line is then drawn closed by the purse wire, which draws the base of the net together preventing the fish from escaping. Catches using this method can be so large that the net is too heavy to bring aboard and the fish are scooped out of the main net using hand-nets, or more typically, pumped aboard through pipes. Targeting shoaling species with this method is usually very selective in terms of species, less so in terms of size. The same goes for pelagic trawls, however they are associated with higher incidence of bycatch. The stock is managed through taxing of licences and landings, seasonal and temporal closures, gear regulation (minimum mesh size), minimum marketable size and limiting of investment in the fleet. Quota only for EU fleet.
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Read what the consumer pages of the Good Fish Guide say about this species.