Sardinops


Sardinops is a genus of sardines of the family Alosidae. Often considered monotypic with only member as Sardinops sagax, it currently has three valid species:
  • Sardinops melanosticta
  • Sardinops ocellatus
  • Sardinops sagax
  • *Sardinops sagax caeruleus
  • *Sardinops sagax musica
  • *Sardinops sagax neopilchardus
It is found in the Indo-Pacific, East Pacific, Southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian oceans. Its length is up to. It has numerous common or vernacular names, some of which more appropriately refer to subspecies, including blue pilchard, blue-bait, Peruvian Pacific sardine, South American pilchard, Chilean sardine, and Pacific sardine.
An extinct species, S. humboldti, was described in 2025 from Miocene fossils in southern Peru.

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. 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, which 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.