Sprats: Quick Facts
Scientific name: Sprattus antipodum (sprat), S. muelleri (stout sprat)
Other names: kupae, marakuha, patete (Maori), New Zealand herring, sardine, sprotte (Germany), espadin (Spain), iwashi, supuratto (Japan)
Ranking: D (Amber - Concerns)
Best Fish Guide: Sprats
Ranking: D (Amber - Concerns)
Alternative Choice: Best option, no alternative
Description: Sprats, also commonly referred to as sardines or New Zealand herring, actually incorporate two different species of sprat. They are a small, fast growing schooling fish found in coastal waters, particularly in sheltered bays. They are often used (long with anchovy and pilchards) by recreational fishers as baitfish and are caught commercially in a minor and intermittent fishery. They are a schooling fish, most commonly found around the South Island, sometimes in mixed schools with anchovy and pilchards. Jointly with anchovy and pilchard, sprats have the highest ecological ranking of any commercial fishery in New Zealand.
Ecological concerns: The lack of basic biological information on both species, the lack of a quantitative stock assessment, the impact of trawling on seafloor species and the lack of a management plan. There is also some concern about the impact of fishing this species on predatory species further up the food chain, such as marine mammals, seabirds and larger fish. However, these concerns have not yet been assessed.
Economic value: The market for sprats includes New Zealand.
Best option: Try to choose sprats caught by purse seine or beach seine.
ASSESSMENT OUTPUT
Biology and risk of overfishing (both species) (score A)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score D)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score D and A)
Management and management unit (score E and C)
For a full ecological assessment, click here
