A cold oceanographic regime with high exploitation rates in the Northeast Pacific forecasts a collapse of the sardine stock.

ABSTRACT: The oceanographic conditions in the north Pacific have shifted to a colder period, Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) biomass has declined precipitously in the California Current, the international sardine fishery is collapsing, and mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus and Scomber japonicus) are thriving. This situation occurred in the mid-1900s, but indices of current oceanographic conditions and the results of our acoustic-trawl surveys indicate it likely is recurring now, perhaps with similar socioeconomic and ecological consequences. Also alarming is the repetition of the fishery's response to a declining sardine stock-progressively higher exploitation rates targeting the oldest, largest, and most fecund fish. Furthermore, our data indicate the recent reproductive condition of sardine is poo

SUBMITTER: Zwolinski JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3306684 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature