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Proceedings of the 2019 Trinational Sardine & Small Pelagics Forum
Proceedings of the 20th Annual Trinational Sardine and Small Pelagics Forum (TSF) held on December…
Northern Anchovy
Northern Anchovy
Engraulis mordax
Also Known As
Anchovy, North Pacific anchovy, California anchovy
Quick Facts
Region
West Coast
About the Species
U.S. wild-caught northern anchovies are a smart seafood choice because they are sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Population
Although northern anchovies are thought to be abundant, the population levels are unknown.
Fishing Rate
At recommended levels.
Habitat Impacts
The gear used to catch northern anchovies is used at the surface and has little impact on habitat.
Bycatch
Bycatch is low because the gear is selective.
Population Status
- Formal stock assessments are not conducted for either the northern or central subpopulations of anchovies, but data is collected to help monitor the populations. For example, estimates of abundance on both subpopulations through ship-based surveys have been completed annually since 2016.
- The northern subpopulation has never been formally assessed, but is thought to be abundant, and has a defined overfishing limit.
- The central subpopulation was assessed in 1995, but results were not used to support stock status. Despite this, the stock is thought to be abundant, and has a defined overfishing limit.
Appearance
- Northern anchovies are small, compressed fish with long snouts that overhang a large mouth.
- They are bluish-green above and silvery below, and adults have a faint silver stripe on the side.
Biology
- Northern anchovies grow quickly, up to about 7 inches.
- They have a short life cycle; they are able to spawn after 2 years and rarely live longer than 4 years.
- They have high natural mortality; each year 45 to 55 percent of the total stock would die of natural causes if no fishing occurred.
- Northern anchovies spawn throughout the year, with peak activity from February to April.
- Females release batches of eggs every 7 to 10 days. The eggs hatch in 2 to 4 days, depending on the temperature of the water.
- Northern anchovies feed on plankton (tiny floating plants and animals).
- They are an important part of the food chain for other fish species, including many recreationally and commercially important fish, as well as birds and marine mammals.
Where They Live
- Northern anchovies are found from British Columbia to Baja California and in the Gulf of California.
- Northern anchovies are divided into two sub-populations in the United States:
- The northern sub-population is found off Oregon and Washington.
- The central sub-population ranges from California to Baja California, Mexico.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage this fishery.
- Northern anchovies are managed under the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan:
- Monitored through landings data. If landings increase significantly, or exceed the annual catch limit, then managers may make management changes.
- Limits on the number and capacity of vessels in the fishery.
- Regulations to reduce bycatch.
- Federal management is coordinated with state fisheries management agencies so that regulations are consistent in state waters (within 3 miles of shore). All states follow federal regulations but some have additional regulations.
Harvest
- In 2019, commercial landings of northern anchovy totaled more than 22.4 million pounds and were valued at more than $1.1 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. These figures may not match other agency sources of data due to confidential information.
- Northern anchovies are generally harvested in the United States with round haul gear.
- Northern anchovies have been fished off the West Coast since at least 1916. The fishery was small until the Pacific sardine fishery collapsed in the 1940s and 1950s. Processors began canning anchovies instead of sardines, and fishermen started harvesting more anchovies.
- Consumer demand for anchovies decreased after the sardine population recovered, and the commercial fishery for northern anchovies gradually declined.
- Today, northern anchovies are used mainly for bait in other fisheries and sometimes processed into fish meal.
Featured News
NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker, a fisheries survey vessel, departed San DIego in early July to assess coastal pelagic species such as sardine and anchovy. Credit: Paul Hillman/NOAA Fisheries