Anchovies are a key part of the Pacific Ocean’s food web. They are nutrient-rich fish that are important prey for more than 50 species of marine wildlife, from albacore tuna and chinook salmon to least terns and humpback whales. However, west coast anchovy populations have been left vulnerable to overfishing.
Luckily, The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), has adopted a new framework that will require regular review of the size of the anchovy population to adjust catch levels as needed based on annual abundance surveys and other information. The framework will also consider the needs of wildlife that feed on anchovy and is thus being hailed as a huge win for the west coast marine ecosystem.
Photo credit: Jodi Frediani @2021