Impact of an Abnormal or Degraded Environment on Small Pelagic Fisheries: The Case of Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)

This study is an analysis of the impact of an abnormal or degraded environment on the fishing of sardines and horse mackerels. The study is based on data from the 2014 and 2015 sampling surveys named ALPEL in Algeria. The results of this study suggest that, for individuals sampled during the ALPEL surveys in 2014 and 2015: the recorded environmental parameters (Temperature, Salinity, Chlorophyll) during these surveys have little or no influence on the recruitment levels of juvenile sardines and horse mackerels in Algerian waters; a high probability that there are no nursery areas or spawning areas in these waters for both sardines and horse mackerels; finally, it is highly likely that the young recruits (juveniles of sardines and horse mackerels) found in Algerian waters originate from spawning areas located in the northern Mediterranean, outside of Algerian waters. Such a situation does not allow for a traditional rational management approach to the exploitation of these two species, thus causing significant socio-economic issues in the small pelagic fishery in Algeria.