Sardines are one of the two most important commercial pelagic schooling fishes in India (the other being Mackerel). Fourteen species of Sardines are found in the Indian waters. Out of the 14 species, the Oil Sardine Sardinella longiceps alone contributes to the largest single species fishery in the country, comprising about 15% of the total marine fish catches. The Indian Oil Sardine is one of the most regionally limited species of Sardinella and can be found in the northern regions of the Indian Ocean. Oil Sardine landing is maximum during post-monsoon season followed by monsoon and pre-monsoon.
The other 13 species are termed as “Lesser Sardines”, comprise all the species of Sardines (Sardinella spp.) other than the Indian Oil Sardine, and contribute about 3-7% to the total marine fish catch. They are known to inhabit mostly the near-shore waters up to 25-30 m depth zone. Nine species of Lesser Sardines occurring in Indian waters, in the order of abundance, are Sardinella gibbosa, S. fimbriata, S. sirm, S. albella, S. dayi, S. sindensis, S. clupeoides, S.melanura and S. jonesi. Four regions of Lesser Sardine concentrations are noticed along the Indian coasts, viz., Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa
