Cycles and trends in the Iberian sardine (Sardine pilchardus) stock and catch series and their relationship with the environment.
Authors
Santos, M.B. (María Begoña); Pierce, G.J. (Graham John); Riveiro, I. (Isabel); Cabanas-López, J.M. (José Manuel); Porteiro-Lago, C. (Carmen)Date
2011Type
conference outputKeywords
SardineTime series
Environmental drivers
Iberia
Abstract
The Iberian sardine (
Sardine pilchardus
) is a good example of
the typical life strategy of small
pelagic fish species around the world: short life span, fast growth and long spawning season,
which in the case of the Iberian stock presents two peaks (in winter and spring). This life strategy
makes new year classes ve
ry dependent on the right environmental conditions to survive the early
life stages. Egg and larval survival relies on the right oceanographic mechanisms, to ensure
retention in favourable areas, and availability of food. Dispersal of eggs and larvae serio
usly
reduces their survival and decreases the chances of a good new year class. Because of this
dependency on environmental conditions in early life, there is no relationship between the stock
size (measured as SSB) and recruitment. Previous studies have e
xplored the relationship between
environmental variables, at large and local spatial scales, and sardine recruitment in the Galician
and Portuguese ...