There is no good [stock-estimation] of pilchard in this area, but the species is probably not overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. . The pilchard is reasonably resistant to fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing., as it reaches sexual maturity early on and grows rather quickly. However, the growth of young pilchard depends strongly on the fluctuations of nature, and as a result the fish stock is very variable. Swimming in shoals also makes them vulnerable to overfishing.
BycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). es in the [purse-seines] fishery are generally low, but there is no fishery specific data available. As the fish swim high up in the water column, there is no seabed impact. Pilchards are an important food source for other species, such as marine mammals and seabirds. The large-scale collection of pilchards can have a negative effect on such species.
Fishing is managed within the EU Common Fisheries Policy. Recently there has been a ban on discardsDiscards:
Unwanted by-catch, which is thrown back because there is no quota, the market price is too low, or the fish is below the legal minimum landing size. Discards can be alive or dead. in this fishery; BycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). es of species for which a quotaQuota:
The maximum amount of fish of a species that may be landed per country and per year; an instrument for regulating fisheries. has been set.
Fish in season
Fish is in season when the spawning period has ended, as the quality is then at its best.