SARDINA PICHARDUS

Shape: Small sizes and long body.

Minimum size: 11 cm

Fat content: 12%-25%

Fishing areas: The pilchard is found in the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of Senegal to Norway; there are important schools of pilchard in the Mediterranean coast, the Cantabrian Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea. It is a very common species throughout the entire Spanish coast and western Africa, and less abundant in the northern areas. It is located in warm salt waters, grouped in large schools at the marine surface: They can be distinguished from great distances because they form characteristic dark spots produced by their movement. They are fished fish overall by seining.

Color: The external coloring on the dorsal part is between blue and green, and silver on the belly and the sides.

Length and weight: They measure around 25cm. The young fish weigh less than 50gr. The adults weigh around 200gr.

Product availability: Higher availability: May, June, July, August, September, October. Medium availability: November. Lower availability: January, February, March, April, and December.