''Sardinops'' is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unisp ...
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
sardine
Sardine and pilchard are common names for various species of small, oily forage fish in the herring suborder Clupeoidei. The term "sardine" was first used in English during the early 15th century; a somewhat dubious etymology says it com ...
s of the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Alosidae
The Alosidae, or the shads, are a family of clupeiform fishes. The family currently comprises four genera worldwide, and about 32 species.
The shads are pelagic (open water) schooling fish, of which many are anadromous or even landlocked. Seve ...
. The only member of the genus is ''Sardinops sagax''. It is found in the
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth. In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...
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
Port Lincoln is a city on the Lower Eyre Peninsula in the Australian states and territories of Australia, state of South Australia. Known as Galinyala by the traditional owners, the Barngarla people, it is situated on the shore of Boston Bay, ...
, South Australia. The remaining 6% of the catch serves human consumption, recreational
fishing bait
Fishing bait is any bait (luring substance), luring substance used specifically to attract and fishing, catch fish, typically when angling with a fish hook, hook and fishing line, line. There are generally two types of baits used in angling: '' ...
and premium
pet food
Pet food is animal feed intended for consumption by pets. Typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food. Most meat used for animals is a byproduct of the human food indus ...
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 .
By 2014, the annual quota had increased to .
The fishery's total landed catch peaked at in the financial year 2004-05 stabilising at around 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.
FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; . (FAO) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition ...
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
Monterey Bay Aquarium is a Nonprofit organization, nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California. Known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay, it was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened in Octob ...
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
*
Sardine run
The KwaZulu-Natal sardine run of southern Africa occurs from May through July when billions of sardines – or more specifically the Southern African pilchard ''Sardinops sagax'' – spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northwar ...
*
Southern bluefin tuna
References
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External links
*
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Australian Sardine @ Fishes of Australia
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{{Authority control
Alosidae
Western American coastal fauna
Marine fish of Southern Africa
Fish of Madagascar
Marine fish of New Zealand
Fish of East Asia
Marine fish of Australia
Fish of Oceania
Monotypic fish genera
Commercial fish
Taxa named by Leonard Jenyns
Fish described in 1842
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