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Biomass and reproduction of Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) off the Pacific northwestern United States, 2003–2005

Lo, Nancy C.H. and Macewicz, Beverly J. and Griffith, David A. (2010) Biomass and reproduction of Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) off the Pacific northwestern United States, 2003–2005. Fishery Bulletin, 108(2), pp. 174-192.

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    Abstract

    The Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) is distributed along the west coast of North America from Baja California to British Columbia. This article presents estimates of biomass, spawning biomass, and related biological parameters based on four trawl-ichthyoplankton surveys conducted during July 2003 –March 2005 off Oregon and Washington. The trawl-based biomass estimates, serving as relative abundance, were 198,600 t (coefficient of variation [CV] = 0.51) in July 2003, 20,100 t (0.8) in March 2004, 77,900 t (0.34) in July 2004, and 30,100 t (0.72) in March 2005 over an area close to 200,000 km2. The biomass estimates, high in July and low in March, are a strong indication of migration in and out of this area. Sardine spawn in July off the Pacific Northwest (PNW) coast and none of the sampled fish had spawned in March. The estimated spawning biomass for July 2003 and July 2004 was 39,184 t (0.57) and 84,120 t (0.93), respectively. The average active female sardine in the PNW spawned every 20–40 days compared to every 6–8 days off California. The spawning habitat was located in the southeastern area off the PNW coast, a shift from the northwest area off the PNW coast in the 1990s. Egg production in off the PNW for 2003–04 was lower than that off California and that in the 1990s. Because the biomass of Pacific sardine off the PNW appears to be supported heavily by migratory fish from California, the sustainability of the local PNW population relies on the stability of the population off California, and on local oceanographic conditions for local residence.

    Item Type: Article
    Title: Biomass and reproduction of Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) off the Pacific northwestern United States, 2003–2005
    Personal Creator/Author:
    CreatorsEmail
    Lo, Nancy C.H.
    Macewicz, Beverly J.
    Griffith, David A.
    Refereed: Yes
    Journal or Publication Title: Fishery Bulletin
    Volume: 108
    Number: 2
    Page Range: pp. 174-192
    Date: 2010
    ISSN: 0090-0656
    Issuing Agency: United States National Marine Fisheries Service
    Subjects: Biology
    Ecology
    Fisheries
    Item ID: 8756
    Depositing User: Patti M. Marraro
    Date Deposited: 11 Jun 2012 20:33
    Last Modified: 11 Jun 2012 20:33
    URI: http://aquaticcommons.org/id/eprint/8756

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