Anchoa: good expectations for this season

1989/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Arrantza

In 1988 a total of 8,266 t were captured, of which 6,950 t correspond to the anchovy fishery.

The most abundant size obtained was between 36 and 41 units per kilo, a little small. In 1987 3,200 tons were left uncaptured and with its proliferation tons of 1988 were obtained. Also in 1988 there have been campaigns of egg tastings that have given rise to two important foci of laying. One has been located on a slope at 45º latitude and the other on the Basque coast. In 1988 the number of eggs increased, due to the abundance of juveniles of anchovy (one year).

Let's see how the size of anchovy stock is calculated at sea. The egg campaign has revealed that 6.18 billion eggs are placed daily in the Bay of Biscay. On the other hand, an average anchovy (32 gr.) puts 15,000 eggs per set. Therefore, 13,000 tons of female anchovy would be needed daily. But not all females put every day, 30% on average do.

Therefore, the application of this factor allows obtaining 43,000 tons of female anchovy. Considering that 55 females are 100 anchovies, 82,000 tons of reproductive anchovy are obtained (one year or more). Since these data were from May 1988, the age of the anchovies evaluated this year will be 2 or more years. Therefore, the numbers represent a hopeful future, although certainly nothing can be said, because there are always unpredictable factors.