Japanese Anchovy

Fished commercially in Japan since the 10th century; abundant catches from about 1890 to 1912, fluctuating to 1930, a decline, followed by an increase and further fluctuations, usually inversely correlated with fluctuations in the catch of sardines (Sardinops melanostictus ). Not only adults, but post-larval stages (sirasu in Japan) exploited. Mostly caught by two-boat purse seines (60%) and boat seines, in autumn in northern parts of Japan, in spring and autumn in the Sea of Japan. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 1 820 259 t. The countries with the largest catches were China (1 096 916 t) and Japan (484 230 t).

Marine, pelagicand near the surface, mainly coastal, but to over 1 000 km from the shore,forming large schools, tending to move more northward and inshore (into bays and inlets) in spring and summer, but without well-defined migrations.Feeds on copepods (the post-larvae chiefly taking the eggs and nauplii), but also on other small crustaceans, and molluscan larvae, as well as fish eggs and larvae; the data given by Shen (1969:tab.3) suggest that diatoms form an important food item in juveniles and adults, as might be expected by analogy with E. capensis . Spawns throughout the year, with peaks in winter and early spring in southern parts of Japan, and in spring and in autumn in the Pacific waters of central Japan and off northern Taiwan Island, mainly in the second year of life; eggs ellipsoidal, hatching in about 30 hours at 20 to 25° C, or 48 hours at 18° C.

To about 16 cm standard length, usually about 12 to 14 cm.

Western North and central Pacific (southern Sakhalin Island, Sea of Japan and Pacific coasts of Japan, and south to almost Canton/Taiwan Island; rare records off Philippine coasts (Luzon, western Mindanao) and from - Manado and Ujung Pandang, Sulawesi, Indonesia).

Differs very little from the European anchovy (see Engraulis encrasicolus ) and can be identified from that description. Of other anchovies found in the southern part of its distribution, only species of Encrasicholina and Stolephorus are similar in appearance (slender, rather round-bodied), but all have small spine like scutes before the pelvic fins (usually 2 to 7 scutes, but occasionally 1 or very rarely none in S. commersonii ). Species of Thryssa have compressed bodies and a keel of scutes along the belly.

Occurs near the surface, mainly coastal, but to over 1000 km from the shore, forming large schools, tending to move northward and inshore (into bays and inlets) in spring and summer, but without well-defined migrations. Feeds on plants and zooplankton (Ref. 5398). Also in Ref. 9137. Young fish feed on zooplankton such as copepod and adults on phytoplankton (Ref. 39882). Employs both filter- and particular-feeding modes on zooplankton (Ref. 42392).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 13 - 18

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Differs very little from the European anchovy (see E. encrasicolus) and can be identified from that description. Of other anchovies found in the southern part of its distribution, only species of Encrasicholina and Stolephorus are of similar appearance, but all have small spine-like pre-pelvic scutes (usually 2 to 7 scutes). Thryssa have compressed bodies and a keel of scutes along belly.

Occurs in large schools near the surface, mainly in coastal waters but as far out as over 1,000 km from the shore. Tends to move more northward and inshore in spring and summer. Juveniles associate with drifting seaweed (Ref. 12114, 12115). Feeds on copepods, but also on other small crustaceans, molluscan larvae, fish eggs and larvae and diatoms. Marketed fresh and salted, processed into fishmeal and oil (Ref. 12484).

fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; bait: usually; price category: low; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species

分布於西北及中太平洋區(50°N～7°S)，日本到臺灣北部沿海最常見；菲律賓、印尼地區罕見。臺灣盛產於新竹以北、東北部及東部海岸線。

每年二至三月日本鯷成魚會大量洄游至台灣東北部產卵，在春季成為宜蘭地區魩鱙漁業的主要組成。主要漁法為圍網，焚寄網及巾著網。多製成魚乾，炒辣椒或煮湯調味用。

體延長成圓筒狀，略側扁，腹部圓而無稜鱗，尾鰭基部有兩大型鱗片。頭稍大。眼大，眼徑大於吻長。吻尖圓。口大，前下位，上頜突出於下頜，上頜骨延長止於上鰓蓋骨前緣。鰓耙細長而密。體被圓鱗，鱗小而薄，易脫落，無側線。背鰭起始於體中部，具軟條14-15；臀鰭起於背鰭基部後之下方，具軟條16-18；尾鰭叉型。體背藍黑色，腹面銀白，體側具一青黑色寬縱帶。各鰭半透明。

近海洄游性魚類，有時可外游至離岸1000公尺；一般多在表層活動，但有時可降至200公尺深之海域。以濾食浮游動物為食，主要是橈腳類及海洋生物之卵及幼生。次年初春時即成熟，大量由日本海域南下產卵，會引來大量鯖、鰺、鬼頭刀等魚類掠食。

The Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) is a schooling fish of the family Engraulidae. It is common in the Pacific Ocean south from the Sea of Okhotsk, widespread in the Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea, and near the coasts of Japan. They live up to 2–3 years, similar to European anchovy. They spawn from Taiwan to southern Sakhalin.