About this background picture

This picture of a school of sardines was taken at Monterey Bay Aquarium. in Monterey, California. From the aquarium’s website: ‘During the 1920s through the 1940s, sardines were the most important commercial fish in California. However, under high demand for canned fish, fish meal and oil, this species was fished to the point of commercial extinction. Due to strict fisheries management and improved habitat conditions, Pacific sardine populations began to recover in the 1980s and now support a modest fishery off California’. For more information look here. © photo: Rob Bugter