Why You Can't Find Sardines Anymore. The Sardine Shortage Explained

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Hi everyone. Today we're going to talk about the sardine situation, namely the shortage. My name is Anita. Welcome back to my channel where I show you how I've lost 150 lbs following an animal-based ketogenic diet. So, if you've been going to Costco, Walmart, Amazon, your local grocery store and wondering why the sardine shelves are suddenly empty, why prices are going up, why your favorite brands keep disappearing, you're not imagining things. There really is a global sardine shortage happening right now. And honestly, after researching this, I completely understand why we're seeing problems. The good news is, this does not mean sardines are disappearing forever. This does not mean your sardine challenge is ruined, and this does not mean you suddenly need to panic buy 20 cases of canned fish.

[00:00:58]Although, if some of you have already done that, I kind of respect that and I understand.

[00:01:05]But today I want to explain what's actually happening out there, why it's happening, which areas are being affected the most, and what you can use instead while things hopefully stabilize.

[00:01:19]Because there are actually several major factors all hitting at the same time.

[00:01:24]Once you understand the bigger picture, these shortages make a lot more sense.

[00:01:29]So, let's get into it. First of all, this is not just one problem. This is what I would call a perfect storm. We have climate issues, fishing restrictions, overfishing concerns, supply chain issues, export restrictions, and a huge increase in demand all happening at the same time.

[00:01:53]And sardines are especially vulnerable because they are small fish that depend heavily on ocean conditions. So, let's start with the biggest issue. The number one thing researchers and fisheries are talking about right now is warming ocean temperatures. Sardines depend on plankton as their food source, and when ocean temperatures change, the plankton changes, too. That affects where the sardines migrate, how well they reproduce, how many babies actually survive, and even the size of the fish themselves. Some fisheries are actually reporting smaller sardines now compared to previous years. And this has been especially noticeable around Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Now, here's the part most people don't know. Morocco is actually one of the biggest sardine suppliers in the world. A huge percentage of canned sardines ultimately trace back to Morocco. And Morocco has had serious declines in sardine catches recently. Some reports say their sardine landings have dropped dramatically over the last couple years. So, what did they do? They started restricting exports.

[00:03:08]They've tightened fishing controls.

[00:03:10]They've closed some fishing zones temporarily, and they started prioritizing their own domestic food supply, which means less sardines are being shipped globally. All that creates ripple effects everywhere else. So, if you are in Canada or the US wondering why your favorite sardines have disappeared, a lot of this actually starts overseas. Now, add to that other issue, fishing quotas and protections.

[00:03:37]Countries are trying to avoid completely collapsing sardine populations, which is a good thing. So many fisheries have reduced quotas or shortened their fishing seasons, which honestly is probably necessary long terms because sardines have become incredibly popular.

[00:03:54]And yes, we are part of that, the keto community, the carnivore community, the high protein people, the anti-seed oil crowd, the fitness community, all all of us out there, uh more people than ever are discovering that sardines, they're cheap comparatively. They're portable, they're high protein, they're loaded with omega-3s, high in calcium, high in minerals, and honestly, one of the best nutrient-dense convenience foods out there. So, of course, demand has exploded. And at the same time, supply is shrinking, and that's a rough combination. And then we still have processing and canning issues on top of that. So, even when fish are available, canneries may not have enough raw supplies, shipping is more expensive, and companies may prioritize their higher-margin products first. So, all of this combines into what we are seeing now, empty shelves, higher prices, limited selection, and certain brands disappearing for weeks at a time.

[00:05:04]Now, I know some of you are genuinely worried because we rely heavily on sardines, especially those of you doing sardine challenges, egg and sardine experiments, or simply using them as an affordable protein source.

[00:05:19]So, let me try to reassure you, uh you do not have to use only sardines. This is really important. When I talk about sardine challenges, what we are really focusing on is small fatty fish. That's the important part. So, if you cannot find sardines, you absolutely can use the other SMASH fish. And if you don't know what SMASH stands for, it means sardines, mackerel, anchovies, salmon, and herring. These are all generally smaller fish that tend to be lower in mercury and rich in omega-3 fats. And honestly, some of these are just as nutritious as sardines. Mackerel is probably the closest substitute overall. Very high in omega-3, very filling, usually affordable, and often easier to find right now.

[00:06:15]Herring is another fantastic option.

[00:06:17]Anchovies are incredibly nutrient-dense, as well. Although, they can be saltier if you don't buy the right ones. And then we also have things like canned salmon, mussels, oysters, and other seafood options. I'm just going to show you a few cans that I have here. These are ones that I'm finding still readily available.

[00:06:41]Well, actually, first I'll show you the ones I cannot find anymore.

[00:06:45]King Oscar and Clover Leaf here in Canada.

[00:06:48]I cannot I used to buy these by the case. Every couple months I'd get cases from Amazon. Not anymore.

[00:06:55]But, I was recently able to buy a case of King Oscar mackerel fillets. These are the Mediterranean style. They are wild, but I was able to get a whole case from Amazon. And so, I'll be eating these on my next challenge. I also was able to find King Oscar salmon in olive oil. I've actually never had salmon in olive oil before, so I'll be testing one of these cans on one of my upcoming sardine chronicles. Cuz I'm interested to see what they taste like.

[00:07:30]Normally, I buy wild sockeye salmon packed in its own juices with just salt added. This is another good option for doing a sardine challenge. And I know that these cans are they're about $7 but this is the equivalent protein wise and nutrient wise this is the equivalent of two cans of you know regular sardines so you're getting they're a little more expensive but you're getting twice as much fish so if you are one of those people who eat two or three cans a day you might only need a can so it's a lot of nutrition I used to be able to buy Gold Seal wild mackerel at Costco and they have been out of stock for quite some time this is my last can my personal last can and when I mentioned anchovies what you want to find is the white anchovies you may or may not be able to find the Wild Planet I do believe these come from Morocco but just make sure you get white anchovies not the little salty flat anchovies those are so strong and salty but these taste like tuna so if you are okay with tuna you will you will love these so these are some really good alternatives kippers which are basically smoked herring and you can also get kippered sardines they are amazing especially with eggs some of those fishes like kippers taste amazing in the sardine pate recipe they give that slightly smoky flavor which I love and all of these fishes you know salmon herring whatever work really well in the crispy sardine waffle recipe so please do not feel like your progress is ruined if you can't find your favorite sardine brand the goal is nutrient density protein omega-3 fatty acids the goal is simple whole foods so there are still plenty of ways to accomplish this now personally I do believe that sardines will eventually stabilize again. I don't think this is the end of sardines forever, but I do think this is a reminder that our food systems are more fragile than people realize. It's kind of amazing when you think about it.

[00:09:52]Sardines have always been considered cheap, abundant, and almost unlimited.

[00:09:58]And now suddenly people everywhere are saying, "Why can't I find sardines?" So, this is definitely bigger than just canned fish. It's about ocean health, global food supply, consumer trends, and changing demand patterns.

[00:10:15]Honestly, I think we are going to continue seeing more conversations like this around food in the future.

[00:10:21]Now, I would love to hear from you guys.

[00:10:23]Are you seeing sardine shortages where you live? Are you able to get your favorite brands? What brands are disappearing for you? If you've discovered a hidden gem out there in the canned fish world, are you willing to share it? If so, please do so below.

[00:10:39]Some people are sounding desperate these days. I know everybody would appreciate some more ideas.

[00:10:45]All right. Thank you so much for watching, and remember, if the sardines disappear, we pivot to mackerel.

[00:10:55]So, I'll see you guys in the next video.