en Stock assessment Stock assessment پژوهشي Orginal research papers <span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">The European pilchard (<i>Sardina pilchardus</i>) plays a crucial role along the Algerian coast, forming a significant part of the local fisheries industry. However, overfishing has resulted in a decline in their population, which has had adverse effects on the fishery sector. This study was conducted to evaluate the current mortality rate and exploitation rate of the sardine <i>S. pilchardus</i> and investigate its growth and length-weight relationship along the Ghazaouet coast. A sample of 1576 specimens was collected from commercial purse seine catches on the western Algerian coast (Ghazaouet fishing grounds). The total length (TL) of the specimens ranged from 9.6 to 21.4 cm with an average of 14.6&plusmn;1.86 cm, and the total weight (TW) varied between 6.2 and 57.8 g with an average of 25.4&plusmn;9.57</span></span></span> <span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">g<span style="background:white">. The estimated growth parameters using the Von Bertalanffy approach have an asymptotic length </span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">L&infin;=</span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">21.26 cm, growth coefficient K=0.77 </span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black">year^-1,<span style="background:white"> and</span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black"> age at zero length</span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black"> t₀=-0.17 year. The results of the study showed that the length-weight relationship had an isometric growth (b=2.99) with a high correlation (r=0.95). The sex ratio showed no dominance between males and females (F+M/M=0.5). The instantaneous rate of total mortality (Z) was estimated to be 1.79 per year, with natural mortality (M) estimated at 0.65 year^-1. Fishing mortality (F) and exploitation (E) were estimated at 1.14 and 0.64 year^-1, respectively. Based on these results, the sardine stock in the southwestern Mediterranean Sea (western Algerian coast) is under higher fishing pressure.</span></span></span></span><span lang="TR" style="font-size:11.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:black"> <span style="background:white">Consequently, it is imperative to implement management strategies that ensure sustainable levels of harvesting.</span></span></span></span> European Pilchard, Growth parameters, Fishing mortalities, Exploitation rate, Length-weight relationship 803 818 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4879-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 R. Selmani rabah.selmani.etu@univ-mosta.dz 100319475328460052619 100319475328460052619 Yes Laboratory of Protection, Valorization of Coastal Marine Resources and Moleculars, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis of Mostaganem, 27000, Algeria S. Bachouche bachouche.samir@gmail.com 100319475328460052620 100319475328460052620 No National Center for Research and Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Tipaza, 42100, Algeria K. Mezali karimmezali14@gmail.com 100319475328460052621 100319475328460052621 No Laboratory of Protection, Valorization of Coastal Marine Resources and Moleculars, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis of Mostaganem, 27000, Algeria S.M. Ghomari ghomarisidimohamed@gmail.com 100319475328460052622 100319475328460052622 No Laboratory of Protection, Valorization of Coastal Marine Resources and Moleculars, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis of Mostaganem, 27000, Algeria