The West Africa population of Bonga shad (Ethmalosa fimbriata) is assumed by FAO/CECAF to be a single stock (FAO 2016) , though recent research  lends evidence that the stock may be more finely structured than previously recognized (Durand et al. 2013) .  No longer present in Morocco and other countries due to habitat degradation and overfishing (FAO 2006) , Bonga shad in this region are concentrated mainly in Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania, where they are exploited in artisanal fisheries  (FAO 2016) . Together with round sardinella (S. aurita) and Madeiran sardinella (S. maderensis), they are the major feed source for the fishmeal industry in Mauritania (FAO 2016) .