Argentine anchoita explained

The Argentine anchoita (Engraulis anchoita) or Argentine anchovy is an anchovy of the genus Engraulis, found in and around waters of Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil.^[1]

Description

It grows to 17cm (07inches) SL or 22cm (09inches) TL. Spawning takes place throughout the year but is most intense and close to shore in October/November, and more offshore and less intensely in May/June.^[2]

Ecology

Engraulis anchoita is a key species in the pelagic ecosystem of the Argentine waters. They are zooplanktivores, and prey especially upon copepods, but also their own eggs. Engraulis anchoita themselves are prey to other species, and constitute a main diet component of important commercial species such as hake, squid and mackerel.^[3]

Fishery

Annual catches of Engraulis anchoita in 2000–2009 varied between 12 and 44 thousand tonnes, mainly taken by Argentina.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Catalog of Fishes . Eschmeyer, W. N. . 2 June 2015 . California Academy of Sciences . 15 June 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503081145/http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp . 3 May 2015 .
2. Book: Clupeoid fishes of the world (Suborder Clupeoidei). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, shads, anchovies and wolf-herrings. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 7 . Whitehead, P.J.P. . G.J. Nelson . T. Wongratana . amp . 1988 . FAO . Rome . 312–313.
3. 10.1016/j.fishres.2006.09.014. Egg cannibalism in the northern population of the Argentine anchovy, Engraulis anchoita (Clupeidae). Fisheries Research. 83. 2–3. 253–262. 2007. Pájaro . M. . Curelovich . J. S. . Macchi . G. J. . 2007FishR..83..253P.
4. Book: FAO. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). [ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/CDrom/CD_yearbook_2009/root/capture/yearbook_capture.pdf Yearbook of fishery and aquaculture statistics 2009. Capture production ]. Rome. 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20170519070831/ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/CDrom/CD_yearbook_2009/root/capture/yearbook_capture.pdf. dead. 2017-05-19. 222.