Pilchard

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Best Fish Guide: Pilchard

 Ranking: D (Amber - Concerns)

What's this? 

 Description: Only recently identified as a separate species, the NZ pilchard is a small (up to 25cm), short-lived, but relatively fast growing fish found in mid to surface coastal waters. It is widely distributed around New Zealand, but found in heavy concentrations in sheltered bays such as the Hauraki Gulf and Tasman Bay, sometimes in mixed schools with sprat and anchovy. Pilchards are mainly targeted throughout the year by purse seiners, but also beach seine and lampara nets. In 1995 some populations were severely impacted by a natural mass mortality, thought to have been caused by a virus. Jointly with anchovy and sprats, pilchard has the highest ecological ranking of any New Zealand commercial fishery and is therefore one of the best fish choices.

Ecological concerns: There is an absence of research on pilchards and the lack of a stock assessment, meaning that the sustainability of the current catch levels is unknown. There is also no management plan and concern that reducing their population could disrupt marine food chains as it is a prey item for many other fish species, seabirds and some marine mammals.

Economic value: Exports of $140,000 to Asia with some locally available pilchards in New Zealand.

Best option: Try to choose pilchards caught by purse seine rather than beach seine, as this fishing method is a more selective and does not contact the seafloor.

ASSESSMENT OUTPUT

Biology and risk of overfishing (score A)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score D)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score B and B)
Management and management unit (score E and C)fishery and is therefore one of the best fish choices.

For a full ecological assessment, click here