Fish
Pacific Sardine
B tier
Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) is the boom-and-bust clupeid of the California Current and other Pacific systems—oily, flavourful, and central to historical cannery rows. Flesh mirrors Atlantic sardines in use: grill, can, fry. Stocks swing dramatically; only buy in years and fisheries that are open and advised as sustainable. When abundant, they are superb and affordable. When closed, respect the science and switch species.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
CannedFriedGrilledWhen Stock Allows
Traits
Boom BustFlavourfulOilyPacificSardinopsVariable Supply
History
US
California cannery industry boomed on Pacific sardine landings.
US
Pacific sardine collapse shuttered much of Cannery Row’s sardine era.
US
Moratoria and tight quotas reflected ongoing Pacific sardine volatility.