Why choose Ocean King® Portuguese Sardines?
- Ocean King® Portuguese Sardines are a superior tasting product for meals and light snacks
- The health benefits of sardines are legendary
- Ocean King® Portuguese Sardines are high in protein and low in fat
- Ocean King® Portuguese Sardines are a source of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals such as, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and vitamins A, B6, B12, D, E and K
Ocean King® Sardine species
Portuguese Sardines (Sardina pilchardus).
Portuguese sardines are considered the sweetest and most succulent in the world.
Supplied by Portugal’s premier canned fish producer, all our sardines are caught in locally owned boats close to the Portuguese coast where the canning factories are located.
The sardines are lifted by hand from the nets and into the boats, then iced to ensure they arrive at shore in excellent condition. Add to this the levels of automation and hand finishing in the factories and you have a consistently top quality product that is in the can within hours of being fished from the sea.
Ocean King Portuguese Sardines are available in the following seven variants:
- Portuguese Sardines in Olive Oil
- Portuguese Sardines in Sunflower Oil
- Portuguese Sardines in Sunflower Oil with Chilli
- Portuguese Sardines in Tomato
- Portuguese Sardines in Salt Water
- Portuguese Sardines Boneless and Skinless in Olive Oil
- Portuguese Sardines in Olive Oil with Vegetables
According to The FAO/WHO Codex standard for canned sardines, there are 21 fish species that may be classed as sardines.
Ocean King® uses only prime Portuguese Sardines which are different to the common South African pilchards – they are much softer, more succulent and very tasty. These sardines are steam cooked with scales and bones in – and enjoyed as such. This characteristic distinguishes Portuguese Sardines from all other 20 species!
Portuguese Sardines may be included in:
- Snacks & hors d’oeuvres
- Salads & Sandwiches
- Pate’s & Dips
- Seafood Pasta’s and sauces
A NATURAL PHENOMENON…
The Sardine Run
Click here for videos of the sardine run
The Sardine Run occurs between May and July when millions of sardines spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward along the east coast of South Africa. Their sheer numbers create a feeding frenzy along the coastline.
The shoals are often more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 meters deep and are clearly visible from spotter planes or from the surface.


