South Brittany sardine purse seine Certified as sustainable in
August 2010. Species: Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) Location: Bay
of Biscay: 0-12 nautical miles, in ICES zone VIIa and VIIe,
south of 48°30' (northern limit) and north of the Bretagne and
Pays de Loire border (southern limit). Fishing methods: Purse
seine (Bolinche). Vessels: 20 active vessels (out of the 23
licenses granted in 2009). Number of fisheries: 1 More about
sardine The Atlantic sardine is a small pelagic, neritic species
with a diet consisting of phytoplankton and zooplankton, mainly
copepods. The Bay of Biscay sardine measures 13 to 25 cm and has
a lifespan of up to 10 years. Sexual maturity is reached at a
size of between 10 and 20 cm and the species spawns throughout
the year, with two peaks in spring and in autumn/winter.
Individuals from spawning in spring and autumn are mature in
spring and autumn respectively of the next year. A female can
lay up to 60,000 pelagic eggs that float at a depth of between
10 and 70 m, hatch 2 to 4 da