State law requires that the population of Pacific sardines,Sardinops sagax caeruleus, must reach a minimum spawningbiomass of 20,000 short tons before initiation of a fishery.Data from ichthyoplankton surveys, the anchovy live baitfishery, sea survey cruises, and the mackerel purse seinefishery are analyzed for evidence of an increase inpopulation size. Presently, the spawning biomass of thenorthern stock of sardines remains far below 20,000 tons. (9pp.)