Aq Res State Trend
Fcur/F0.1: Ratio between the observed fishing mortality coefficient during the last year of the series and F0.1.
Fcur/FMSY: Ratio between the observed fishing mortality coefficient during the last year of the series and the coefficient that would give a maximum sustainable yield over the long term.
Bcur/B0.1: Ratio between the estimated biomass for the last year and the biomass corresponding to F0.1.
Bcur/BMSY: Ratio between the estimated biomass for the last year and the biomass corresponding to FMSY.
Habitat Bio
Climatic Zone: Temperate. Depth Zone: Coastal (0 m - 50 m); Shelf - Uppershelf (up to 100 m). Horizontal Dist: Littoral. Vertical Dist: Pelagic.
Bio Assess
Assessment year: 2021
The CECAF Working Groups have adopted the following Biological Reference Points (BRPs):
- Limit Reference points: BMSY and FMSY
- Target Reference Points: B0.1 and F0.1
Stock status is assigned based on current estimates of fishing mortality (Fcur) and biomass (Bcur) relative to these target and limit reference points (Bcur/BMSY, Fcur/FMSY, Bcur/B0.1, Fcur/F0.1). The results from the stock assessment of this stock are found under the “Biological state and trend section”.
Sci Advice
The stock is considered not fully exploited in 2021. However, there is a decrease in CPUEs and a decrease in the average size of sardines caught in the central zone. This observation calls for vigilance with regard to the exploitation of this stock whose biomass levels fluctuate. Projections show that the stock could sustain an increase in catches. However, the variability of the resource vis-à-vis hydroclimatic changes requires the adoption of a precautionary approach. The working group maintains the recommendation not to exceed a level of 550 000 tonnes.
Sources
FAO. 2022. Meeting summary of the FAO/CECAF Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa. Nouakchott, Mauritania, 5-9 December 2022. CECAF/SSCIX/2022/4a.
https://www.fao.org/3/cc3286b/cc3286b.pdf Bibliography
All references to figures, tables and bibliography in the text are found within the source of information.