Make a Donation

Seafood Watch

Take Action

News from Julie Packard

Conservation Research

Our Conservation Efforts

Get Updates

Seafood Search

A-N
O-Z

Octopus
Opah
Orange Roughy
Oysters
Perch
Plaice
Pollock
Pomfret
Pompano
Red Porgy
Rockfish
Sablefish
Salmon
Sanddab
Sardines
Scad
Scallops
Scup
Sea Turtle
Sea Urchin
Shark
Shrimp
Skates
Smelt
Snapper
Sole
Spearfish
Squid
Striped Bass
Sturgeon
Swai
Swordfish
Tilapia
Tilefish
Totoaba
Trevally/Jack
Trout
Tuna, Albacore
Tuna, Bigeye
Tuna, Bluefin
Tuna, Canned
Tuna, Skipjack
Tuna, Tongol
Tuna, Yellowfin
Wahoo
Walleye
White Seabass
Whitefish
Wreckfish
Yellowtail

A-N
O-Z

Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Sardines

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Sardines		Sardine, Pilchard, Iwashi	U.S. Pacific	Wild-caught

Sardine

Sardine populations appear to be abundant and healthy and are a "Best Choice."

Consumer Note

The name “sardine” is applied to many small fishes of the herring

family, but most commonly refers to the Pacific sardine. Sardine is known as iwashi when prepared for sushi.

Summary

Sardines reproduce rapidly, but their populations depend on favorable marine conditions.

Pacific sardines once supported one of the largest and most profitable fisheries in the U.S., but by the late 1940s the fish were virtually gone. Although overfishing

likely contributed to this, the dramatic decrease was later found to be part of a natural “boom and bust” cycle, which occurs in Pacific sardine populations every 30 to 40 years when a change in water temperature and oceanic conditions favors either sardines or anchovies.

Sardines have made a comeback — good news for people who enjoy these tasty fish as well as the many kinds of seabirds, marine mammals and other fish in the food web that rely on them as the basis of their diet.

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Sardines Seafood Watch Report

	Print a pocket-size Seafood Watch guide to take with you. Download a guide now
Mobile phone users log on to mobile.seafoodwatch.org. iPhone and iPhone touch users, you can get the most up-to-date Seafood Watch recommendations on your iPhone or iPod touch.

How fish are caught or farmed makes a difference.

Learn more

Celebrating 25 Years of Ocean Conservation