Spotted sardinella, scientifically known as Amblygaster sirm, is a species of fish in the family Clupeidae. It is commonly found in the Indo-West Pacific region, including the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. Spotted sardinella (Amblygaster sirm) is indeed found in the coastal waters of Tanzania, which is located in East Africa along the Indian Ocean. Tanzania has a diverse marine ecosystem, and sardinella species are commonly found along the coastal region of the country. They are also found in the marine waters along Indo-West Pacific regions from Mozambique to the Philippines, and towards north Taiwan and Japan to the far east of Australia and Fiji. It is a widely captured commercial fish in Sri Lanka, where the fish is known as “Hurulla” in Sinhala language.
These fish are an essential resource for the local fisheries industry in Tanzania. They are caught using various fishing methods, including traditional artisanal fishing techniques such as beach seines, gillnets, and ring nets. Spotted sardinella is an important food fish for both local consumption and export. A recent research study revealed a single stock genetic structure which indicates low genetic diversity that can impair their sustainability in the future.
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Fabiani, G., Mtonga, C.J., Chauka, L.J., Rumisha C. and Muhando, C.A. (2023). Mitochondrial DNA revealed a single stock structure of the Spotted sardinella Amblygaster sirm (Walbaum, 1792) (Teleostei; Clupeidae) in Tanzanian coastal waters. Mar. Biodivers. 53, 40 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-023-01351-2
The Department of Animal, Aquaculture, and Range Sciences
The College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture
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