Recent studies suggest that the ocean-atmosphere interactions can change drastically the ecosystem conditions as in the California Current System (CCS). The Pacific sardine population (Sardinops sagax) in the CCS is constituted by several stocks which present important variations in space and time. This study analyzed oceanographic surface variability in the California Current System by using satellite images and its influence in the distribution of sardine stocks. The monthly analysis of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Chlorophyll concentration “a” showed an important seasonal and interannual variability and the presence of mesoscale phenomena as cyclonic and anticyclonic gyres, upwellings and filaments that influences the sardine distribution and abundance. Three abundance peaks are observed from the analysis between sardine catch versus SST and Chl “a” data. For temperature, the first and highest peak was located below the 17°C, the second one between 17°C and 22°C, and the third one and the lowest above 22°C. This temperature range variation in space and time determines the latitudinal distribution of the stocks. For the catch and Chl “a” concentration analysis the first one and highest peak is delimited by the range from 0.6 to 1.8 mg/m³, the second and the third one with many less catch between 1.8 mg/m³ to 3.4 mg.m³ and 3.4 to 6 mg/m³. This Chl “a” concentration range variation in space and time determines the longitudinal distribution of the stocks, this means the distribution from the coastal to the oceanic zone.

Northeast Pacific, sardine catches, stocks, satellite images.