South American pilchard

Since 2000, catches caught in this fishery have been documented through landing slips and catch records for each jurisdiction to conduct stock assessments “using a stochastic age-structured model with density dependent recruitment, catch and effort data, and estimating the number of individuals at age ussing Virtual Populations Analysis and a Shepherd’s stock-recruitment model” (Nevárez-Martínez et al. 1999; SCS 2011; Nevárez-Martínez 2009).

In 2015, a stock assessment was conducted using the Age Structured Assessment Program (ASAP) model. The analysis used catch and biological data from the fishery. Fishery independent data included the following indices of relative abundance: a) number of fish caught per squared km in tows, during prospective and acoustic surveys from 1990 to 2014; b) indices of biomass obtained by means of acoustic detection of fish from 2008 to 2014; c) abundance of eggs and larvae (number/10 m² ) from 1971 to 1988; d) an environmentally based index specifying the spawning probability from 1979 to 1996; and d) an index based on the proportion of sardine in the diet of sea birds (Nevarez-Martinez et al. 2015).

No quotas are set in the Mexican fishery but NOM has set a minimum landing size and fleet capacity is controlled (DOF 2012). Recommendations on research have been reported in the management plan but does not seem to have been address until present (DOF 2012): i) improve knowledge of stock structure, ii) implement ecosystem models which take into account environmental variability on the small pelagic stocks.

A biological acceptable catch (BAC) is supposed to be estimated annually, using the exploitation rate of 0.25. CBA for 2014-2015 would be in the range of 128,367 and 147,702 tonnes (Nevarez-Martinez et al. 2015). However, as the stock is not managed through quotas, this BAC is only used for analysis purposes.

The MSC full assessment identified weaknesses in the estimation of fishing mortality, and recommended to review the stock assessment methodology for future assessments (SCS Global Services Report 2018).

Last updated on 02 Apr 2018

Optimum yield was estimated at 220,000 tonnes and F = 0.26 (INAPESCA 2014). More recently (Nevarez-Martinez et al. 2015) estimated Fmsy = 0.28. Management exploitation rate is defined at 0.25 (DOF 2012).

Last stock assessment reports indicate that the stock has been stable in the last 3 years, spawning stock biomas (SSB) around the Bmsy (533,000 tonnes) (Nevarez-Martinez et al. 2015)(SCS Global Services Report 2018). Fishing mortality is considered to be very low, however peer review of the methodology detected methodological errors indicating that F values are underestimated (SCS Global Services Report 2018).

The total catch of small pelagics for the 2014/15 season was 244,465 tonnes, which is around 50% lower than the 2012/13 season. Pacific sardine represented only 2% of the catch (4,455 tonnes), second lowest catch of Pacific sardine in the history of the fishery, which declined more than 90% from the catch in the 2012/13 season (SCS Global Services Report 2018).

Last updated on 02 Apr 2018

The small pelagics fishery in the Gulf of California started in late 1960s, with catches increasing to a peak of 300,000 tonnes by 1988-89, after which the stock collapsed to less than 1/3 of its original stock size (Cisneros-Mata et al., 1996). This overfishing and the eventual collapse lead to major changes in this fishery such loss of several thousand jobs, closure of half of the fishing fleet and processing plants during this period (Lluch-Cota et al., 1999).

Total landings of small pelagics have been highly variable since then, showing however an increasing trend up to 500,000 tonnes until 2013 (Nevarez-Martinez et al. 2015), and have been half of this value in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 fishing seasons (SCS Global Services Report 2018). The total catch of smaller pelagics has fluctuated according to the abundance of Pacific sardine. Fluctuations are related to the El Niño and La Niña phenomena that affected the distribution and availability of this species.

This fishery is regulated under the Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM) 003-PESC-1993 and the management plan in place (DOF 2012).

1. Minimum size limit for Pacific sardine of 150 mm.
2. Area/Fishing closures during spawning periods (August-September).
3. Port sampling to collect age and size data.
4. Total catches for the fishery documented through landing slips / fishing vessel for each trip.

Last updated on 02 Apr 2018

None are reported under the current management plan (DOF 2012).

Based on the General Law on Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, CONAPESCA will be responsible for verifying and compliance with this Management Plan, as well as with the regulatory provisions of the Law, the official standards deriving from it, through duly authorized personnel, and with the participation of the Secretary of the Navy in the corresponding cases (DOF 2015). On the other hand, there is no public document specifying what are the sanctions in case of illegal fishing of south American pilchard and bycatch limits, the figure of this illegal activity is not quantified in any existing official and unofficial document for Mexico.

There is no TAC or quota limits for South American Pilchard fishery in Mexican waters. In the last years, landings are well below the biologically acceptable catches (Nevarez-Martinez et al. 2015). Minimum size limits are in place but their implementation remains doubtful especially in the artisanal sector within the jurisdiction of this fishery.

The Gulf of California is home for more than thirty species of marine mammals, at least five species of sea turtles and hundreds of seabirds species (WWF, 2011). Some of the PET species reported in the jurisdiction of this fishery include sea lions, sea turtles and seabirds.

An on-board observer program was carried out in fishing seasons 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 with a 10% observer coverage in Sonora, where most of the small pelagics landings are recorded. Species associated with the fishery which are in some category of risk or protection in the Mexican law (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 and NOM-029-PESC-2006) were 20 species;  six fishes (Hippocampus ingens, Pomacanthus zonipectus, Totoaba macdonaldi, Carcharodon carcharias, Mobula munkiana, Rhincodon typus), two reptiles (Lepidochelys olivácea and Chelonia mydas agassizii), four mammals (Delphinus capensis, Stenella attenuate, Tursiops truncates and Zalophus, californianus) and eigth birds (Puffinus creatopus, Puffinus ophistomelas, Larus heermanni, Larus livens, Thalasseus elegans, Synthliboramphus craveri, Puffinus auricularis, Sula nebouxii and Pelecanus occidentalis). 

Most interactions referred just to observations, due to the atraction of PET species by fish in nets, sea lions and seabierds were observed entering and leaving the purse seine, one sea lion mortality occurred and there were reports of 34 dolphin mortalities (Delphinus capensis and Tursiops truncates; both species Least Concern IUCN); six sea turtles from two species captured were released alive and presumed to survive. Four non-fatal interactions with whale sharks were also observed (García Alberto and Gastelum Nava 2015).

Critically endangered Vaquita (Totoaba macdonaldi) is also reported in the jurisdiction of this fishery, but it is more likely to be impacted by drift nets than purse seines in the Gulf of California.

Unfortunately, the on-board observer program was discontinued and did not operate during these last two fishing seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16) (SCS Global Services Report 2018).

The small pelagic fishery is multispecific, there are 8 species associated: thread herrin or crinuda (Opisthonema spp.), Pacific anchoveta or sardina bocona (Cetengraulis mysticetus), Pacific chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), red-eye round herring or sardina japonesa (Etrumeus teres), leatherjacket or sardina piña (Oligoplites spp.) and northern anchovy or anchoveta norteña (Engraulis mordax), Pacific jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) and Pacific sardine or sardina monterrey (Sardinops sagax). These are retained for domestic consumption or reduction industry (Martínez-Zavala et al. 2006, Nevárez-Martínez et al. 2010). Species composition varies significantly (García Alberto and Gastelum Nava 2015)(SCS Global Services Report 2018). 

Some species reportedly discarded in this fishery include (<1%) leatherjacket (Oligoplites spp.) and rayadillo (Orthopristis spp.), Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus spp.), amberjacks (Seriola spp.), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), jumbo fluing  squid (Dosidicus gigas) and finescale triggerfish or cochito (Balistes polylepis). The volume of all of these species accounts for <0.3% of the catch of the Sonora small pelagics fishery (SCS Global Services Report 2018).

This information was obtained from an on-board observer program operating in Sonora during 2013 and 2014, however this program was discontinued and did not operate during these last two fishing seasons (2014/15 and 2015/16) (SCS Global Services Report 2018).

The Gulf of California sardine fishery operates in mid-water between 10-100 meter depths and generally avoids contact with benthic habitats (INAPESCA 2014)(García Alberto and Gastelum Nava 2015).

Last updated on 02 Apr 2018

Two marine protected areas have been created in the Gulf of California with the main objective of protecting the endangered cetacean “Vaquita”: 1993, Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve; 2005, Vaquita Refuge Area (SEMARNAT, 2008).

There are also seven natural protected areas (ANP) areas where fishing activities with boats is not allowed, which are the San Lorenzo Archipelago National Park, Bahia de Loreto National Park, Espiritu Santo Archipelago National Park, Cabo Pulmo National Park and the San Pedro Martir Island Biosphere Reserve. In addition, these areas no take zones. The objective of these non-fishing areas is the preservation of ecosystems in the medium and long term (Íñiguez Dávalos et al. 2014).

Another tool that is used in Mexico are the refuge areas, which are delimited in the waters of federal jurisdiction, with the primary purpose of conserving and contributing, naturally or artificially, to the development of fishery resources due to their reproduction, growth or recruitment, as well as preserve and protect the environment that surrounds it (DOF 2014). In the Gulf of California three areas were declared with fishing refuges Corredor, Puerto Libertad and San Pedro Nolasco Island (DOF 2017)(DOF 2017). In these areas, no extractive activities can be carried out.