Spotlined Sardine Catch Decreases Sharply in Japanese Waters

Japan's Fisheries Agency reported on September 9, 2002 in its fish resource assessment that stocks of spotlined sardine (sardinops melanostictus) and chub mackerel (pneumatophorus japonicus) in Japanese waters have both been rapidly declining. In particular, the numbers of spotlined sardine migrating from the East China Sea to the Japan Sea (East Sea) are dropping sharply.

The total catch of this fish group exceeded 1 million tonnes in 1983, and kept this level until 1991; however, it plummeted to 41,000 tonnes in 1999, 7,800 tonnes in 2000, and 1,400 tonnes in 2001.

The Fisheries Agency explained that the depletion of the fish resources was caused by natural environmental, rather than by human factors. However, as the numbers of spawners are decreasing, a further sharp decline is forecasted under the current levels of exploitation. The Fisheries Agency also remarked that fishing specifically for spotlined sardine should be discouraged, but incidental catches with other fish should be acceptable.

Spotlined sardine has been used in daily life in Japan since ancient times. Bones of this fish have been found in ancient shell mounds and buried sites from 12,000 to 2,300 years ago. From the Edo to the early Showa period (early seventeenth to the twentieth century), people ate this fish both raw and dried, and used its oil for lighting. The residue left after extracting the oil was used as fertilizer.

The sardine is one of Japanese favorites as an inexpensive and popular fish. It has various uses, including as feed for cultured fish, canned oil sardines, and dry fish meal as fertilizer.



Posted: 2002/10/24 02:40:59 PM
Japanese version