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 40cm (20inches). 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).
The South Australian sardine fishery targets Sardinops sagax and is the highest yielding single species fishery in Australia by volume.[1] The fishery employs the technique of purse seining, which contributes to the sardines' status as sustainable.[2] [3] 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.[4] [5] 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 . 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.