MSC-Risk-Based Framework Status

98: Pass – Low Risk

The Australian sardine fishery scored > 80 in the MSC-RBF analysis, passing assessment with low risk of stock damage. The Productivity Susceptibility Analysis showed this species to be highly productive, as a broadcast spawner with short generation time and high fecundity. Australian sardine is moderately susceptible to capture and damage by the fishery. Although fishing effort overlaps with < 10% of the stock distribution, there is a moderately high risk of fish encountering purse seine gear in the water column and the age-range of fishery independent samples indicate some immature fish are regularly caught. The fishery, however, is still under development. Therefore, time-series data assessed in the Consequence Analysis showed minimal impact on long-term recruitment capacity. This outcome is likely to change as the fishery is developed.

Productivity Attributes

Attribute	Score
Average age at maturity	1
Average maximum age	2
Fecundity	1
Average maximum size	1
Average size at maturity	1
Reproductive strategy	1
Trophic level	2

Susceptibility Attributes

Attribute	Score
Availability	1
Encounterability	2
Selectivity	2
Post-capture mortality	3

Consequence Analysis

Vulnerable Subcomponent(s)	Score
All	100

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