Sardinops

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Otomorpha
Subcohors: Clupei
Superordo: Clupeomorpha
Ordo: Clupeiformes
Subordo: Clupeoidei

Familia: Clupeidae
Subfamilia: Clupeinae
Genus: Sardinops
Species: S. sagax
Name

Sardinops Hubbs, 1929
References

Sardinops – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Vernacular names
Bahasa Indonesia: Pilchard Amerika Selatan
日本語: マイワシ属
русский: Сардинопс

Sardinops is a monotypic genus of sardines of the family Alosidae. The only member of the genus is Sardinops sagax. It is found in the Indo-Pacific and East Pacific oceans. Its length is up to 40 cm (16 in). It has numerous common or vernacular names, some of which more appropriately refer to subspecies, including blue pilchard, Australian pilchard (S. s. neopilchardus), blue-bait, Californian pilchard (S. s. caeruleus), Peruvian Pacific sardine (S. s. sagax), South American pilchard, Chilean sardine (S. s. sagax), Japanese pilchard (S. s. melanostictus), Pacific sardine, and Southern African pilchard (S. s. ocellatus).
South Australian sardine fishery
South Australian sardine fishery - Total catch (1990-2012)
South Australian sardine fishery - Total catch (1990-2012)

The South Australian sardine fishery targets Sardinops sagax and is the highest yielding single species fishery in Australia by volume.[2] The fishery employs the technique of purse seining, which contributes to the sardines' status as sustainable.[3][4] Schools of sardines are encircled by a net up to 1 kilometre in length which is then drawn closed at the bottom. The catch is then pumped on board the fishing vessel where it is stored in refrigerated holds at below freezing temperatures. 94% of the catch is used as feed in Southern bluefin tuna ranching operations off Port Lincoln, South Australia.[5][6] The remaining 6% of the catch serves human consumption, recreational fishing bait and premium pet food markets.[7]

The industry commenced in South Australia in 1991 with an annual catch quota of 1,000 metric tons (980 long tons; 1,100 short tons). In 2003, the fishery's annual quota was set at 36,000 metric tons (35,000 long tons; 40,000 short tons).[8] By 2014, the annual quota had increased to 38,000 metric tons (37,000 long tons; 42,000 short tons).[9] The fishery's total landed catch peaked at 56,952 metric tons (56,053 long tons; 62,779 short tons) in the financial year 2004-05 stabilising at around 32,000 metric tons (31,000 long tons; 35,000 short tons) per year thereafter.

A key area of concern for industry compliance in 2004 was quota evasion. Quota evasion had previously occurred in several forms: unloading catch directly to tuna farms, failing to report prior to unloading catch and dumping excess catch at sea.[8]
Gallery

Visitors watch a school of thousands of Pacific sardines form a tornado in an exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium
A school of S. sagax in the Open Sea exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Pacific sardines in the Sunshine Aquarium
Catch of Pacific sardines
Catch of Pacific sardines
Pacific sardines are blue-green on the back and have white flanks with one to three lengthwise rows of dark spots.
Pacific sardines are blue-green on the back and have white flanks with one to three lengthwise rows of dark spots.

See also

Sardine run
Southern bluefin tuna

References

Gaughan, D.; Di Dario, F.; Hata, H. (2019) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. "Sardinops sagax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T183347A143831586. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T183347A143831586.en. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
Ward, Timothy; Smart, J.; Grammer, G.; Ivey, A.; McGarvey, R. (2020-01-01). Stock assessment of Australian Sardine (Sardinops sagax) off South Australia 2019 (Report). University Of Tasmania.
"Australian Sardine 2020". fish.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
Ward, Tim M.; Wolfe, Barrett W.; Grammer, Gretchen L.; Ivey, Alex R.; King, Edward; Schiller, Andreas; McDonald, Karlie S.; Dambacher, Jeffrey M. (2023-09-01). "Large sardine resource discovered off south-eastern Australia: Potential risks, challenges and benefits of establishing a new fishery". Marine Policy. 155: 105739. Bibcode:2023MarPo.15505739W. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105739. ISSN 0308-597X.
Ward, Timothy; Smart, J.; Grammer, G.; Ivey, A.; McGarvey, R. (2020-01-01). Stock assessment of Australian Sardine (Sardinops sagax) off South Australia 2019 (Report). University Of Tasmania.
Ward, Tim M.; Wolfe, Barrett W.; Grammer, Gretchen L.; Ivey, Alex R.; King, Edward; Schiller, Andreas; McDonald, Karlie S.; Dambacher, Jeffrey M. (2023-09-01). "Large sardine resource discovered off south-eastern Australia: Potential risks, challenges and benefits of establishing a new fishery". Marine Policy. 155: 105739. Bibcode:2023MarPo.15505739W. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105739. ISSN 0308-597X.
"Sardines". South Australian Sardine Industry Association. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
Ecological Assessment of South Australian Pilchard Fishery (PDF). South Australia: Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA). 2004. pp. 23–24.

Neindorf, Brooke (2014-11-26). "Catch increase for South Australian sardine fishers". Rural. ABC. Retrieved 2015-04-26.

Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Sardinops sagax" in FishBase. May 2006 version.
Ayling, Tony; Cox, Geoffrey J. (1982). Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand. Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-216987-5.