Conservation nonprofit Oceana said the U.S. government’s new rebuilding plan for Pacific sardines puts the species on the right track after the population was designated as “overfished” in 2019.
“This new rebuilding plan for Pacific sardines is a big step forward toward protecting ocean wildlife while also ensuring future fishing opportunities. Forage fish like sardines are the backbone of a healthy ocean food web and an essential food for so many of the animals we enjoy seeing off our shores,” said Ben Enticknap, the Pacific campaign director and senior scientist for Oceana. “It’s been a long road to get this far, and while there’s still a lot more to do to help sardines recover, there are now some protective measures in place to help achieve that future goal.”
NOAA Fisheries was forced to scrap its initial rebuilding plan after environmental law group Earthjustice sued the agency on behalf of Oceana in 2021, with the latter claiming the government’s plan did not do enough to protect sardines. According to Oceana, NOAA Fisheries' first proposal contained “woefully deficient management measures” that would not allow the fish to recover.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California agreed, ruling in 2024 that NOAA Fisheries needed to rewrite its plan by June 2025.
“Rebuilding overfished populations is a core requirement of our fisheries law,” Earthjustice Attorney Danika Desai said in a statement. “We are happy the court recognized this. A lawful rebuilding plan that restores sardines to healthy levels is essential for a thriving ocean ecosystem and will help ensure there’s enough food in the sea for whales, sea lions, pelicans, and other animals.”
Under the new plan, the government will limit the annual catch of sardines to 2,200 metric tons, or 5 percent of the population estimate. Oceana said that the plan should enable Pacific sardines to recover.
