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European anchovy

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/Keurmerk Wild
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General

Herring-like fish

There are two families in the order Clupeiformes; the herring family (Clupidae) and the anchovy family (Engraulidae) and are relatively small, silver-coloured fish.  They swim in large, pelagic schools and feed on plankton. They are occasionally found near the shore, however they usually swim further out in the open sea at depths up to 200 m. Most species are capable of producing a lot of eggs each spawning event, up to 200.000 per adult female. A large share of the global wild catch consists of haring-like fish. Not everything is used for direct human consumption, a large share is processed as fish meal or fish oil that form the essential ingredient for fish feed in aquaculture. Haring-like fish swim in large schools which makes them susceptible to large scale (industrial) fishing.

 

 

 

 

European anchovy

The European anchovy that can be found on the Dutch market is primarily caught in southern Europe around the Portuguese coasts and the Bay of Biscay. There used to be European anchovy fisheries in the Zuiderzee, however, it has become locally extinct as a consequence of the construction of the Afsluitdijk. Apart from a small traditional fishery in Bergen op Zoom, there is no other fishery that targets European anchovy in the Netherlands. The European anchovy can reach an average length of 13.5 cm and mainly feeds on plankton and algae.

 

 

European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Purse seines

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Explanation assessment

The Spanish Cantabrian purse seine fishery for European anchovy has been MSCMSC:
Marine Stewardship Council, an independent, international non-profit organization that has developed an eco-label that guarantees well-managed, sustainable fisheries. Fish products that meet the criteria of the eco-label can be identified by the blue MSC logo.
-certified since 2015. This fishery had been closed between 2005-2010 due to reduced recruitment of juvenile fish. However, five years later, it became the first anchovy fishery in Europe to achieve MSC certification thanks to an improved long-term management plan. MSC-certified anchovies are caught using pursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'. 
seines.

European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus
Origin

Cantabrian Sea and Iberian waters (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Purse seines

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The anchovy stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
in this area is at a sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs.
level. Fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
is considered sustainable and has no negative impact on stock structure.

The impact of pursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'. 
seines on the ecosystem appears to be low and there is minimal impact on benthic habitats and species. Because anchovy are often fished in large schools, this is a relatively selective method with little bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
of other species.

Management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
are applied, but landings regularly exceed scientific advice. ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this species is partially effective.

European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, central eastern (FAO 34)

Farming- / Catch method

Pelagic trawls, Purse seines

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

There is currently much uncertainty about the status of the anchovy stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
around Morocco and Mauritania. It seems that the current fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
is not sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs.
in the long term.

The impact of pelagicPelagic trawls:
In pelagic trawling, a trawl is pulled through the water column. The net is not towed across the seabed.
trawls and pursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'. 
seines on the ecosystem seems small and there is minimal impact on benthic habitats and species. Because anchovies are often fished in large schools, this is a relatively selectiveSelective fishing methods:
Selective fishing methods capture many target species, and little or no unwanted fish species and animals.  
method with little bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). 
of other species.

These fisheries are regulated by the governments of Morocco and Mauritania. Although the stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
is well monitored and various management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
have been implemented, it is not clear whether this contributes to protecting the stock. ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
of this species is not effective.

European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus
Origin

Mediterranean and Black Sea (FAO 37)

Farming- / Catch method

Pelagic trawls

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

The anchovy stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period. 
in this area is currently not at a sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs.
level. It is considered overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. 
and fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.
remains too high.

Fishing with pelagicPelagic trawls:
In pelagic trawling, a trawl is pulled through the water column. The net is not towed across the seabed.
trawls is unlikely to have a major impact on the ecosystem and other species. However, information is limited and the fishery overlaps with important habitats for vulnerable cartilaginous fish.

There are efforts to improve managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured.
on anchovy in this area, but implementation of management measuresManagement measures:
For fisheries, management measures can affect the amount of fish that can be caught, the type of gear that can be used and where fishing is and is not allowed.
is still insufficient. Management of this species is partially effective.

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.