State law requires that the population ofPacific sardines, Sardinops sajax caeruleus,must reach a minimum spawning biomass of20,000 short tons before initiation of afishery. Data from ichthyoplankton surveys,sea survey cruises, the anchovy bait fishery,and jack mackerel purse seine fishery areanalyzed for evidence of an increase inpopulation size. Presently, the spawningbiomass of the northern stock of sardines isfar below the minimum requirement. (8pp.)