Scientific name
Sardina pilchardus; Sardinella aurita
Also known as
European pilchard, sardine, round sardinella, sardinelle ronde, allache
Main origins
Morocco, Mauritania, Ghana, Senegal
Availability
Year round, quota managed
Overview
About Sardines and Sardinella
Sardina pilchardus is a small, oily schooling fish of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean, abundant off Morocco. Sardinella aurita, the round sardinella, is a larger tropical relative found from Morocco to the Gulf of Guinea. Both have rich, full flavoured dark flesh with a soft texture.
Morocco is the leading producer of European pilchard and supplies canneries, freezing plants and fishmeal; Mauritania exports sardinella mostly frozen whole round. Ghana’s sardinella is landed largely by canoes for the domestic market. Uses include canning, grilling, smoking and bait.
Key points
- Whole round block frozen
- Graded in pieces per kg
- Land frozen and sea frozen
- Canning, bait and consumption
Origins
Where it comes from
Morocco
Purse seiners land Sardina pilchardus along the Atlantic coast, with freezing plants in the southern ports.
Mauritania
Sardinella aurita is caught by pelagic trawlers and coastal purse seiners and exported sea frozen or land frozen.
Ghana
Sardinella aurita supports the canoe fishery and is mainly sold fresh, smoked or frozen on the domestic market.
Available origins vary through the year. Contact us for current availability.
Specifications
Available formats
| Product forms | Whole round (WR); Moroccan sardine also HGT, butterfly and fillets |
| Sizes (pcs per kg) | Sardine WR 8/12, 12/14, 14/16, 16/26; sardinella WR 2/4, 4/6, 6/8; sardinella HGT 4/6, 6/8, 8/10 |
| Freezing | Block frozen (BQF) on land or at sea |
| Packing | 20 kg cartons (2 x 10 kg blocks); Moroccan packers also 10, 22 and 24 kg |
| Availability | Year round subject to quotas; Ghana applies an annual closed season for inshore fleets |
| Certifications | EU approved plants, HACCP; health and catch certificates per shipment |
FAO CECAF assessments have rated Northwest African sardinella stocks as overexploited, so volumes vary with quotas and closures. Specifications are typical for the trade and vary by origin and supplier. We source to your exact requirements.
Interested in Sardines and Sardinella?
Send us your specification, volumes and destination and we will come back to you with suitable offers.