Northern Anchovy

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.

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.
• The northern sub-population has never been formally assessed, but is thought to be abundant, and has a defined overfishing limit.
• The central sub-population was last assessed in 1995, 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.

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.