Anchovies are small, schooling forage fish belonging to the family Engraulidae, which includes over 140 different species globally. These fish are characterized by their slender bodies, silvery color, and a large mouth that extends behind the eye. Anchovies serve a major function in marine ecosystems, acting as a direct link between plankton, their primary food source, and larger predators. Their dense schooling behavior helps them evade the numerous marine birds, fish, and mammals that rely on them for sustenance.
Defining the Coastal Habitat
Anchovies are typically pelagic species, meaning they inhabit the water column rather than the seafloor. This preference usually keeps them within the shallow, sunlit zone of the ocean, often within 100 to 200 meters of the surface, and close to continental shelves or shorelines.
Anchovy species prefer warm to temperate waters but can tolerate a wide temperature range, such as the Northern Anchovy’s tolerance for water between 8°C and 25°C. Many populations demonstrate euryhaline capabilities, allowing them to thrive in water with varying salinity levels. This tolerance enables them to inhabit brackish environments like estuaries, bays, and lagoons.
The defining characteristic of a suitable anchovy habitat is the presence of nutrient-rich upwelling areas. Upwelling occurs when deep, cold, nutrient-dense water rises to the surface, fueling massive blooms of phytoplankton. Since anchovies primarily feed on plankton, their populations concentrate heavily in these biologically productive zones, which support the large biomasses necessary for their survival and the vast schools they form.
Worldwide Presence and Key Fishing Regions
The distribution of anchovies is widespread, encompassing the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The most significant populations are concentrated in four major eastern boundary current systems, which are globally renowned for their cold, nutrient-rich waters and high biological productivity.
The most productive anchovy region in the world is the Humboldt Current, which flows northward along the western coast of South America, supporting a fishery that contributes significantly to the global fish catch. Similar upwelling conditions exist along the west coast of North America, powered by the California Current, which hosts a major anchovy stock. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Benguela Current off the coast of South Africa and the Canary Current off Northwest Africa and Europe also sustain massive anchovy populations.
Beyond these eastern boundary systems, the European Anchovy is commercially important throughout the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. These regions offer suitable conditions, including coastal pelagic zones and a wide range of salinities.
Major Species and Their Unique Ranges
The Peruvian Anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) is the single most heavily fished species globally, and its range is tightly confined. This species is concentrated almost exclusively within the highly productive waters of the Humboldt Current system, extending along the coasts of Peru and Chile.
The European Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) has a far broader distribution, spanning the Northeast Atlantic, the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. This species also extends its range southward along the coast of Africa. In contrast, the Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax) is found along the West Coast of North America. Its range extends from the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, Canada, southward to Cabo San Lucas in Baja California, Mexico, and includes the Gulf of California.