The current trend of overfishing by China and Russia is placing immense pressure on Pacific sardine stocks

JAPAN WARNS! ==> Sardine Overfishing Escalates: China and Russia Double Sustainable Limits

JAPAN
Thursday, September 05, 2024, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Water Research Institute Report: Urgent Need for International Fishing Regulations

Recent data from the Fisheries Research and Education Agency, released on August 30th, reveals that sardine stocks in the Pacific Ocean have reached an overfished state, with current catches nearly double the allowable biological catch (ABC). Both China and Russia have significantly increased their sardine harvests, pushing the fishery beyond sustainable levels. While Japan has implemented legal limits on total allowable catch (TAC), international regulations are currently inadequate, only restricting the number of fishing vessels in international waters. This situation has raised serious concerns about the future sustainability of the sardine population.

Overview of Pacific Sardine Stock

Distribution:

Pacific sardines are widely distributed along Japan's Pacific coast. Since the 1990s, their spawning grounds have developed in the inner Kuroshio Current area, from off the coast of Shikoku to the Kanto region.

Catch Volume Trends:

Catch volumes surged in the late 1970s, exceeding 2.5 million tons in the 1980s, before plummeting in the 1990s and remaining low throughout the 2000s. The 2010s saw a recovery, with Japan's sardine catch reaching 577,000 tons in 2023. However, foreign catches have increased, with Russia capturing 544,000 tons and China 233,000 tons in 2023 alone.

Catches by Age Group:

While the majority of sardines caught have been juveniles (0 and 1 year olds), there has been a notable increase in the proportion of fish aged 2 years or older since 2016. China's catches were also considered in the estimation, using body length data.

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Resource Abundance Trends:

The spawning volume, an indicator of the abundance of parent fish, was critically low in the early 2000s but has shown signs of recovery in recent years, particularly east of Shionomisaki. Various surveys indicate a consistent increase in recruitment and the abundance of 1-year-old fish since 2010, suggesting recent improvements in population dynamics.

Future Projections and Concerns

Forecasts based on different fishing scenarios have been outlined. Under the proposed management rules, fishing will continue with a coefficient of β=1.30 in 2025, provided the parent fish biomass exceeds the target reference value. From 2026 onwards, a lower coefficient of β=0.85 will be applied. The 2024 catch volume is estimated based on projected resource levels and current fishing pressures (average β=1.68 from 2021-2023).

If these management measures are adhered to, the average catch volume in 2025 is projected to reach 663,000 tons, with a 100% probability that the parent fish biomass will exceed the target reference value by 2031.

Conclusion

The current trend of overfishing by China and Russia is placing immense pressure on Pacific sardine stocks. Immediate action and stricter international regulations are required to ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital marine resource.

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