Sardinops is a monotypic genus of 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 . 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
The South Australian sardine fishery targets
Sardinops sagax and is the highest yielding single species fishery in Australia by volume.
The fishery employs the technique of
purse seining, which contributes to the sardines' status as sustainable.
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.
The remaining 6% of the catch serves human consumption, recreational
fishing bait and premium
pet food markets.
The industry commenced in South Australia in 1991 with an annual catch quota of . In 2003, the fishery's annual quota was set at .
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.
Gallery
School of sardines at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (12056).jpg|alt=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
Sardines.ogv|Pacific sardines in the Sunshine Aquarium
Catch of Pacific sardines.jpg|Catch of Pacific sardines
Sardine photo4 exp.jpg|Pacific sardines are blue-green on the back and have white flanks with one to three lengthwise rows of dark spots.
See also
External links
