NORTHERN ANCHOVY
DID YOU KNOW? The breeding success of California brown pelicans
and elegant terns is strongly correlated with anchovy abundance.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Engraulis mordax, from
the Greek engraulis (European anchovy) and Latin mordax (biting).
COMMON NAMES: California anchovy, pinhead, anchoa, anchoveta,
and bay anchova.
DESCRIPTION: Small compressed fish with long snouts that overhang
a large mouth. Bluish-green above and silvery below; adults have a faint
silver stripe on the side. Up to 9 inches in length.
LIFECYCLE: The northern anchovy spawns throughout the year depending
on the region; usually within 100 km of the coast near the surface. Anchovies
are abundant in bays and estuaries in the spring, summer and fall. While
anchovies move along the shore and offshore, they do not migrate extensively.
RANGE: In North America, the northern anchovy occurs from the
Gulf of California, Mexico to Queen Charlotte Islands in Canada.
HABITAT AND ECOLOGY: Estuaries and bays provide important habitat
for the northern anchovy, which spends significant time in these habitats.
Primarily feeding on planktonic crustaceans and fish larvae, the northern
anchovy in turn is an important food source for many species of fish, including
California halibut, rock fish, yellow tail tuna, shark, chinook, and coho
salmon. It is also important prey for marine mammals and birds. For example,
the breeding success of California brown pelicans and elegant terns is
strongly correlated with anchovy abundance.
Threats to wetlands such as poor forestry and agricultural management
practices, urban development and channel diversion structures can negatively
impact anchovies because wetlands help buffer estuaries from pollution
and siltation. In addition, wetlands provide rich feeding grounds and protection
from predators.
ECONOMIC VALUE: Following the collapse of the Pacific sardine
fishery in the 1940's, fishermen initiated a commercial fishery for the
northern anchovy that has developed into a multi-million dollar fishery.
It is fished commercially from San Francisco, California to British Columbia.
The northern anchovy is also the most important bait fish for marine recreational
fisheries off of southern California, and is used as bait for sturgeon,
salmon, and other fish in Washington and Oregon.
Revised 12/16/96
