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Pacific Sardine

Sardinops sagax caeruleus

Pacific Sardine

Sardinops sagax caeruleus
Other Common Names
California sardine, Pilchard, California pilchard
At the Aquarium
Open Sea
Other Common Names
California sardine, Pilchard, California pilchard

At the Aquarium

Open Sea

Appearance

Pacific sardines are small, silvery fish that can grow up to 16 inches in length. They are blue-green on the back and have 1 to 3 sets of dark spots on the middle of their bodies.

Habitat

Adults live in pelagic, open ocean habitats while juveniles are found off sandy beaches, around kelp beds and in bays

Diet

Plankton

Life History

Pacific sardines form large, dense schools near the ocean surface which helps confuse and protect them from predators.

They move seasonally along the coast with older adults moving from spawning grounds in southern California and northern Baja California to feeding and spawning grounds off the Pacific Northwest and Canadian coasts. Meanwhile, younger adults migrate to feeding areas mainly in central and northern California.

Pacific sardines begin to reproduce at age 1 or 2. They spawn multiple times per season. Females release eggs into the water where they are fertilized and hatch in about 3 days.

Pacific sardines can live up to 13 years, but usually do not live past 5 years.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Pacific sardines are important prey for many marine mammals, seabirds, and larger fish.

Pacific sardines are popular for human consumption. The live bait fishery for this species supports a large sportfishing industry along the west coast. From the 1920s through the 1940s, Pacific sardines were the largest commercial fishery in California. Due to high demand for this species they faced commercial extinction so a commercial harvest moratorium was put in place from 1967 to 1986. With the management of this fishery populations began to recover in the 1980s. Populations of Pacific sardines are still closely monitored today and are regulated based on population trends.
Range
Southeastern Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.
On the Oregon Coast
Pacific sardines are found in nearshore and offshore areas along the Oregon coast.
Fun Facts
While Pacific sardines appear to move in near-unison with their school, they do not move as one unit. Rather, they coordinate their movements using visual cues and sensory organs called neuromasts.

Citations & Other Resources

  • Iwamoto, T., and W. Eschmeyer. 2010. Sardinops sagax ssp. sagax. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
  • NOAA Fisheries. N.d. Pacific Sardine. Species Directory. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-sardine/overview
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife. N.d. Pacific Sardine. Marine Species Portal. https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/pacific-sardine/false/
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium. N.d. Pacific sardine. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/pacific-sardine
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Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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