Fishing fleets from Spain and Portugal have regained Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for Iberian sardine (Sardina pilachardus, W.) after over a decade of effort. The certification, suspended in 2012 and again in 2014 due to stock management issues, now reflects major improvements.
A new multi-annual management plan, agreed in 2021 and valid until 2026, sets annual catch limits, closed seasons, and juvenile fishing restrictions, enabling sustainable and coordinated resource management.
A total of 317 vessels —132 Portuguese and 185 Spanish— are included in the certification, along with 15 producer organizations. In 2025, Portugal's sardine quota is set at 34,406 tonnes, and Spain’s at 17,332 tonnes.
“The sardine stock is in much better condition than it was 15 years ago. This result is thanks to the sacrifices and forward-thinking vision of the fleet,” said Alberto Martín, MSC Program Director for Spain and Portugal.