The 1976-77 anchovy season ended with landings of 92,515

mt (101,433 tons) in southern California and 4,571 mt (5,041

tons) in central California. Southern California catches

were dominated by age groups III (27%) and 0 (28%) while 77%

of central California's landings were age groups III through

VI. Numerical sex ratios were calculated to be 1.1:l and

2:l female to male for southern and central California

respectively.  (23pp.

Sunada, John S.

English

Aquatic Commons

I TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 42 1979 
CALIFORNIA DE PAR TME NT O F  FISH A ND GAME 
M A R I N E  R E S O U R C E S  T E C H N I C A L  R E P O R T S  
Marine Resources Technical Reports a r e  research 
documents by Department personnel that a r e  of sufficient 
importance to be preserved, but which for some reason 
a r e  not appropriate for primary scientific publication. No 
restriction is  placed on subject matter,  
These Reports may be cited in publication, but ca re  
should be taken to indicate their manuscript status. The 
material in these Reports may eventually appear in the 
primary scientific literature. 
Inquiries concerning the Reports should be directed 
to The Editor, Marine Resources Branch, 350 Golden Shore, 
Long Beach, California 90802. 
THE ANCHOVY REDUCTION FISHERY FOR 
THE 1976-77 SEASON 
JOHN S .  SUNADA 
Marine Resources Region 
Marine Resources Technical Report No. 42 
Ca l i fo rn i a  Department of F ish  and Game 
-1979- 
ABSTRACT 
The 1976-77 anchovy season ended with landings of 92,515 
mt (101,433 tons) in southern California and 4,571 mt (5,041 
tons) in central California. Southern California catches 
were dominated by age groups I11 (27%) and 0 (28%) while 77% 
of central California's landings were age groups 111 through 
VI. Numerical sex ratios were calculated to be 1.1:l and 
2:l female to male for southern and central California 
respectively. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Page 
A B S T R A C T - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  2 
THE FISHERY 
Southern California------------------------------ 5 
Central California------------------------------ 6 
AGE COMPOSITION OF THE CATCH 
'central California------------------------------ 10 
LENGTH COMPOSITION OF THE CATCH 
Central California------------------------------ 13 
SEXUAL MATURITY AND SEX RATIO 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
This  paper could not  have been completed wi thout  t h e  h e l p  and 
cooperat ion of many people,  t o  name a few a r e  Richard Kl ingbe i l  
f o r  h i s  be lp  i n  a l l  a spec t s  of t h e  p r o j e c t  w i th  a s s i s t a n c e  from 
John Seapin, William Lang, Jerome S p r a t t ,  and Marian Haxby. The 
typing was performed by t h e  e f f i c i e n t  team of Paula  Ri ley  and 
Charel Cueva. E d i t o r i a l  comments were provided by Herbert  Frey 
and Raymond Ally.  
INTRODUCTION 
This r e p o r t  is  t h e  r e s u l t  of a monitoring program of t h e  anchovy 
reduct ion  f i s h e r y  and i s  t h e  t e n t h  such r e p o r t  s i n c e  t h e  beginning of 
t he  f i s h e r y  i n  1965. The f i s h e r y  is  centered  i n  two a r e a s ;  o f f  
southern C a l i f o r n i a  and i n  Monterey Bay. 
Data on est imated numbers by s i z e  c l a s s ,  year  c l a s s ,  weight ,  
matur i ty  and s e x  were der ived  from 4,872 anchovies sampled a t  Terminal 
I s l and  i n  southern  Ca l i fo rn i a ;  and 162 ind iv idua l s  from Moss Landing 
(Monterey). Age was determined by t h e  technique descr ibed by Co l l in s  
and S p r a t t  (1969). Methods of sampling were previous ly  d iscussed  by 
Co l l in s  (1971). Sexual ma tu r i t y  index was descr ibed  by Sunada (1977). 
THE FISHERY 
Southern Ca l i fo rn i a  
F ish ing  began i n  t h i s  reg ion  on September 15,  1976 and ended on 
May 15, 1977. The season ' s  landings reached 92,515 me t r i c  t ons  (101,433 
tons)  of which 77,644 m t  (85,031 tons)  were caught by t h e  San Pedro 
f l e e t  and t h e  remaining 14,871 m t  (16,396 tons)  by t h e  Por t  Hueneme 
boats  (Table 1 ) .  The quota w a s  increased  t o  109,000 m t  (120,000 tons)  
from t h e  i n i t i a l  90,718 m t  (100,000 tons)  on March 31, 1977 by t h e  
F ish  and Game Commission. 
The San Pedro f l e e t  s i z e  remained r e l a t i v e l y  cons tan t  a t  40 v e s s e l s  
during t h e  season whi le  t h r e e  boa ts  composed the  Por t  Hueneme f l e e t .  
Processing c a p a c i t i e s  a t  both p o r t s  remained unchanged a t  1,678 m t  
(1',850 tons)  from t h e  previous season (Sunada, 1977). 
I n i t i a l  f i s h  p r i c e  was negot ia ted  a t  $39.75 pe r  s h o r t  t o n  of 
anchovies,  g radual ly  i nc reas ing  throughout t h e  season reaching a h igh  of 
$58.75 pe r  t o n  and c los ing  i n  May a t  $56.85 pe r  ton.  
-6- 
P r i c e  nego t i a t i ons  delayed any i n t e n s i v e  f i s h i n g  u n t i l  mid-November 
while  w in te r  storms c u r t a i l e d  some f i s h i n g  i n  December. Landings i n  
November reached 25,584 m t  (28,200 tons)  which was 28% of t h e  season 's  
t o t a l .  January and February landings  were low due t o  u n a v a i l a b i l i t y  of 
f i s h  and poor weather condi t ions  (Table 1 ) .  Spring f i s h i n g  improved 
considerably,  when 19,636 m t  (21,845 tons)  were landed i n  March, 
although f i s h i n g  success  decl ined during t h e  remaining months. 
Over h a l f  of t h e  ca tches  were made i n  t h e  San Pedro Channel reg ion  
whi le  t h e  P o r t  Hueneme a r e a  w a s  second wi th  18% (Table 2 ) .  The Santa 
Barbara reg ion  was t h e  s i t e  of heavy f i s h i n g  during September although 
t h i s  a r e a  con t r ibu ted  only 10.1% of t h e  t o t a l  ca t ch  (Table 2) .  Santa 
Monica Bay-Point Dume a r e a  cont r ibu ted  n e a r l y  12% wi th  t h e  remaining 
tonnage caught o f f  Santa Ca ta l ina  I s l a n d  and Oceanside r eg ions  (Table 2). 
Cent ra l  Ca l i fo rn i a  
F ish ing  i n  t h i s  reg ion  began on August 1, 1976, ending on May 15 ,  
1977 wi th  a seasonal  quota of 13,608 m t  (15,000 tons ) .  The season ' s  
t o t a l  amounted t o  4,571 m t  (5,041 tons)  wi th  over h a l f  t h e  ca tches  
taken i n  November and December (Table 1 ) .  
A maximum of s i x  boa t s  operated i n  t h i s  area, al though most of 
these  boa t s  departed i n  January f o r  t h e  San Francisco Bay h e r r i n g  
f i s h e r y  and re turned  i n  Apr i l .  Anchovy p r i c e s  were s i m i l a r  t o  southern  
Ca l i fo rn i a  p r i c e .  F ish ing  grounds were loca t ed  predominantly i n  
Monterey Bay. 
AGE COMPOSITION OF THE CATCH 
Southern Ca l i fo rn i a  
The season ' s  landings a t  Terminal I s l and  were cha rac t e r i zed  by 
l a r g e  numbers of young of t h e  year  f i s h  (1976 year  c l a s s )  which t o t a l e d  
nea r ly  28% by number, f a r  above t h e  10 year  mean of 9.4%. Numbers of 
T ~ L E  1. Anchovy Landings f o r  1976-77 Season by P o r t  - Weight i n  
Met r ic  Tons 
Moss P o r t  Terminal 
Month Landing Hueneme I s l a n d  T o t a l  % 
August 313 0 0 313 0 .3  
September 500 1,659 4,529 6,688 6.9 
October 19 7 3,312 6,477 9,986 10.4 
November 1,534 5,083 20,501 27,118 28.1 
December 923 3,299 16,217 20,439 21.2 
January 28 346 1,823 2,197 2.3 
February 63  185 3 8 286 0.3 
March 179 615 19,021 19,815 20.5 
A p r i l  8 34 372 6,960 8,166 8.4 
May 0 0 1,578 1,578 1.6 
To ta l  4,571 14,871 77,144 96,586 100.0 
Short  t ons  5,041 16,398 85,037 106,476 
% 4.7 15.4 79.9 
TABLE 2. Sou thern  C a l i f o r n i a  Landings by Block O r i g i n  and  Area,  Weight i n  M e t r i c  Tons 
Area Block /I September October November December January  February March A p r i l  May T o t a l  P e r c e n t  
San ta  
Barbara  653-6 70 3,019 1 ,653  234 4,299 2 7 ... ... ... ... 9,232 1 0 . 0  
P o r t  
Hueneme 682-688 2,074 
P o i n t  
Dume 701- 707 638 
San Pedro 
Channel 719-743 400 2 ,521 17,607 5,764 1,206 38 16,354 2,779 1 ,056 47,725 51.9 
C a t a l i n a  758-762 
... ... ... ... I s l a n d  805-807 5 5 275 2,447 2,848 459 6 ,084 6.6 
... Oceanside 757,802- 54 105 1 7  ... ... 105 1 ,333  70 1 ,684  1.8 
-- 
T o t a l  
40 F OCTOBER 
40 
2 0 -  
P 
40  - NOVEMBER 
- 
20 - 
r 
- 
SEPTEMBER 1976 
N=193 
W - 
* 40 - DECEMBER a - 
2 0 -  z 
W C 
JANUARY 1977 
N=83 
MARCH 
N= 1363 
APRIL 
AGE 0 I I I 11 1 IV V V I 
FIGURE I Anchovy age composition by month 
southern Colifornio 1976 -77 Season 
-10- 
t hese  f i s h  accounted f o r  over 50% of t h e  f i s h  sampled i n  March and 
dominated t h e  ca tch  i n  Apr i l  and May (Figure 1 ) .  Age group 111 a l s o  
t o t a l e d  28% by number bu t  dominated t h e  ca tch  i n  terms of weight wi th  
32% (Table 3 ) .  These f i s h  became l e s s  numerous l a t e  i n  t h e  season 
(Figure 1 ) .  
H i s t o r i c a l l y ,  age group I1 f i s h  have been t h e  dominant age group; 
however, t h i s  age group cont r ibu ted  very  l i t t l e  t o  t h e  f i s h e r y .  Age 
group I a l s o  were p re sen t  i n  below average numbers. These two age 
groups t o t a l e d  only 28% by number as compared t o  48% f o r  t h e  same 
age groups dur ing  t h e  previous season (Sunada, 1977). The numbers of 
t hese  age groups i n d i c a t e  poor spawning success  i n  1974 and 1975. 
Older age groups (IV-VII) were present  i n  above average numbers, 
e s p e c i a l l y  age  group I V  wi th  13% (Table 3) .  
Cent ra l  Ca l i fo rn i a  
Fish from o l d e r  age groups h i s t o r i c a l l y  dominated t h e  ca t ch  a s  
was t h e  case  during t h i s  season when 77% by number of t h e  ca t ch  comprise 
f i s h  from age groups 111 though V I  whi le  t h e  younger age groups 0 t o  
I1 t o t a l e d  only  23% (Table 4) .  The no t i ceab le  absence of t hese  young 
age groups can  i n d i c a t e  poor spawning during 1974 through 1976. The 
l ack  of 0 age  group f i s h  i n  t h e  ca tch  d i f f e r s  g r e a t l y  wi th  southern  
Ca l i fo rn i a  da ta .  
LENGTH COMPOSITION OF THE CATCH 
Southern Ca l i fo rn i a  
Anchovies landed a t  Terminal I s l and  measured between 78 mm t o  
158 mm ( 3  t o  6.2 inches)  SL wi th  an  average l eng th  of 121  mm (4.8 inches)  
SL (Table 5 ) .  I n  a d d i t i o n  t o  t h e  mean length  being smal le r  than  128 mm 
(5.0 inches)  SL of last season 's  (Sunada, 1979), 56% of t h e  es t imated  
TABLE 3. Estimated Number and Weight of Anchovies Landed at Terminal Island by Age and Year-Class for 1976-77 Season 
0 I I I I11 I V  v V I  V I I  
1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 . 1970 1969 Total 
Estimated 
Numbers 1,181,440,000 507,805,000 688,665,000 1,186,351,000 570,868,000 109,868,000 8,472,000 1,661,000 4,255,130,000 
Standard 
Deviation 59,396,526 23,424,496 23,371,280 28,063,247 21,533,733 10,294,094 2,403,412 1,116,347 
Percent 27.8 11.9 16.2 27.9 13.4 2.5 0.2 0 . 1  100.0 
Estimated 
Metric tons 14,733 7,857 13,367 24,848 13,080 2,724 205 45 76,859 
Standard 
Deviation 635 359 453 
Percent 19.4 10.2 17 .3  32.3 17 .0  3.5 0.2 0 .1  100.0 
I 
P 
TABLE 4. Estimated Number and Weight of Anchovies Landed at Moss Landing by Age and Year-Class for 1976-77 Season P 
Estimated 
Numbers 797,000 8,774,000 13,209,000 21,068,000 29,182,000 21,842,000 5,159,000 
Standard 
Deviation 1,919,946 4,020,408 5,595,998 5,093,219 5,682,948 3,654,730 1,939,939 
Percent 0.8  8 .8  13.2 21.1 29.2 21.8 5 . 1  
Estimated 
Metric tons 1 0  202 351 
Standard 
Deviation 
Percent 0.3  6.9 12.0 21.2 30.2 23.0 6.4 100.0 
TABLE 5 .  Length Frequency o f  Anchovy ( a l l  f i s h )  f o r  Southern C a l i f o r n i a  
During t h e  1976-77 s e a s o n . ' ,  
Standard 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 
Length 0 I I1 111 IV V VI VII T o t a l  
Tota l  1 ,349 589 791 1 ,353  654 124 10  2 4 , 8 7 2  
S.E.M. 0 . 2 3  0 . 3 2  0 . 2 7  0 . 2 0  0 . 3 0  0 . 9  3 . 8  1 1 . 3  
- 13 - 
4.25 b i l l i o n  f i s h  were smaller than  125 mm (4.9 inches)  SL as compared 
t o  36% below 125 mm (4.9 inches)  SL during t h e  1975-76 season (Table 6 ) .  
Length d i s t r i b u t i o n s  during t h e  f a l l  showed s e v e r a l  modes between 
120 and 135 mm (4.7 t o  5.3 inches)  SL whi le  t h e  win te r  and s p r i n g  months 
displayed numerous modes i n  t h e  100 t o  120 mm ( 3 . 9  t o  4.7 inches)  SL 
range, r ep re sen t ing  recrui tment  of age group 0 (1976 year  c l a s s )  f i s h  
(Figure 2 ) .  Age group 0 f i s h  were s l i g h t l y  l a r g e r  t han  f i s h  of t h e  same 
age group during t h e  previous season (Table 5 ) .  
Females gene ra l ly  were l a r g e r  than males a s  was t h e  case  during t h e  
p a s t  s e v e r a l  seasons (Table 7) .  
Cent ra l  Ca l i fo rn i a  
Anchovy s i z e  ranged from 100 t o  160 mm (3.9 t o  6 .3  inches)  SL 
wi th  a mean l eng th  of 139 mm (5.5 inches)  SL (Table 8). Of t h e  est imated 
100 m i l l i o n  f i s h ,  47% were between 135-144 mm (5.3 t o  5.7 inches)  SL 
s i z e  range (Table 6 ) .  The absence of smal l  f i s h  could i n d i c a t e  poor 
s u r v i v a l  of t hese  young f i s h  as i t  was apparent i n  t h e  age composition. 
The average length  of a female f i s h  was s l i g h t l y  g r e a t e r  than  a 
male, a l though males of c e r t a i n  age groups were l a r g e r  than  females 
(Table 7).  
SEXUAL MATURITY AND SEX RATIO 
Southern Ca l i fo rn i a  
Mature and near  mature ( s t age  4-6) f i s h  were most preva len t  during 
January through Apr i l  wi th  t h e  h ighes t  incidence of mature f i s h  occur- 
r i n g  i n  A p r i l  (Figure 3) .  Males appear t o  mature e a r l i e r  than  females. 
The female t o  male numerical r a t i o  of 1.1:l and weight r a t i o  of 
1 .2 : l  (Table 9) were lower than  t h e  previous season ' s  r a t i o s  of 1 . 5 : l  
and 1 .6 : l  r e spec t ive ly  (Sunada, 1977). The l a r g e  numbers of age group 
0 f i s h  may have cont r ibu ted  t o  t h e  lower r a t i o s ,  s i n c e  males w e r e  
TABLE 6. Estimated Number by Length of Anchovies Landed at Terminal Island and Moss Landing During 
1976-77 Season. 
Length TERMINAL ISLAND MOSS LANDING 
Group Percent Percent 
(mm SL) Estimated Number Standard Deviation of Total Estimated Number Standard Deviation of Total 
-- - 
Total 4,255,130,000 100.0 100,031,000 100.0 
15 SEPTEMBER 1976 
10 - N. 271 
X =  120.3 
15' OCTOBER 1976 
I0 - N=509 
X 118.9 
-LL 
NOVEMBER 1976 
10- N = 1143 
X= 127.8 
5 - 
15 ' DECEMBER 1976 
10 - N 1129.0 X= 120.3 
a 5 -  
W 
(3 
a 
IT JANUARY 1977 
l5 r MARCH 1977 
No 1361 
Xs 114.9 
15 ' APRIL 1977 
10- N.382 
X1120.9 
5 - 
15 - 
A 
MAY 1977 
10 - N.a79 
Xt124.0 
5-  
, 1 I I I I I I 6 
100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 
LENGTH IN MILLIMETERS 
FIGURE 2. Anchwy length - freqtency by month. Southern Callfornio. 
1976 - 197 7 Season. 

TABLE 8. Length Frequency of Anchovy ( a l l  f i s h )  f o r  C e n t r a l  C a l i f o r n i a  
During t h e  1976-77 season." 
S tandard  1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1 9 7 1  1970 1969 
Length 0 I I I 111 IV V VI VII T o t a l  
T o t a l  2 1 4  22 36 46 3 4 8 162 
SEM 2.47 1 .98 1.75 1.07 1.09 1.27 2.97 
- 18 - 
SEPT 1976 
Mole 
Female 
m 
0 
OCT 
r 
60 NOV 
4 0 -  
. 
60 DEC 
4 0 
. 
60. JAN 1977 
4 0 -  
20. 
n 
MAR 
- 
40.  APR 
- 
80- 
60. MAY 
40 
20. 
b 
STAGE I 2 3 4 5 6 7 
FIGURE 3. Sexual maturity of anchovies from 
southern California. 1976 - 77 Season. 
-19- 
s l i g h t l y  more numerous i n  age group 0 (Figure 4). 
Cent ra l  Ca l i fo rn i a  
Sexual ly mature f i s h  appeared i n  November and December al though t h e  
sample s i z e s  were few, which may have b i a sed  t h e  r e s u l t s  (Figure 5) .  b 
Females outnumbered t h e  males 2:l  by number and 2.2:l by weight 
(Table 9) .  These r a t i o s  were g r e a t e r  than  t h e  previous season ' s  
f i g u r e s  of 1 .93: l  by number and 1.98: l  by weight (Sunada, 1977).  
Males were more numerous i n  t h e  younger age groups as compared t o  o l d e r  
age groups (Figure 4 ) .  
CONCLUSION 
The southern  Ca l i fo rn i a  d a t a  i nd ica t ed  t h e  e a r l y  recru i tment  of t he  
1976 year  c l a s s ,  whi le  t h e  1975 and 1974 cohor ts  were p re sen t  i n  below 
normal numbers, co inc id ing  wi th  previous season 's  low numbers. This  
t r end  d e f i n i t e l y  implied low s u r v i v a l  f o r  t hese  yea r  c l a s s e s ,  bu t  t h e  
1973 year  appeared i n  above average numbers as d id  t h e  1972 yea r  c l a s s .  
Cent ra l  Ca l i fo rn i a  d a t a  showed t h e  usua l  occurrence of o l d e r  age 
groups a s  t h e  ca tch  comprised mainly of t h e  1973, 1972 and 1971 cohor ts .  
The younger f i s h  were not iceably  sca rce  i n  numbers. 
The sex  r a t i o s  f o r  southern  Ca l i fo rn i a  f i s h  were nea r ly  1:1, pos- 
s i b l y  due t o  t h e  abundance of young f i s h ,  whi le  c e n t r a l  Ca l i fo rn i a  s ex  
r a t i o  w a s  2 females t o  every male. The absence of young f i s h  could 
account f o r  t h i s  var iance  i n  r a t i o s .  
- 20 - 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
Female 
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 
0 I I I 1 1 1  IV v 
FIGURE 4. Percento~e of moles and females by age group. 
SEPT 1976 
Male = 
NOV 
- 
. 
FIGURE 5. S W ~  maturity of anchovies from central CoMornio. 
1976 - 77 Season. 
100- 
90 
80 
70 
60 
50 
40 
30- 
20 
i - 10 
- DEC 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
> 
i STAGE I 2 3 4 5 6 
TABLE 9. Sex Ratio by Number and Weight of Anchovy for 1976-77 
Season 
Sex Ratio by Number Terminal Island Moss Landing 
Males 
Number 
Percent 
Females 
Number 
Percent 
Unknown 
Number 323,186,000 
Percent 7.5 
Total 4,255,130,000 100,030,000 
Sex Ratio 
Female :Male 1.1:l 2.0:l 
Sex Ratio by Weight 
(Weight in megagrams) Terminal Island Moss Landing 
Males 
Weight 33,429 911 
Percent 43.6 31.1 
Females 
Weight 
Percent 
Unknown 
Weight 4,355 
Percent 5.6 
Total 76,859 2,930 
Sex Ratio 
Fema1e:Male 1.2:1 2.2:l 
REFERENCES 
Co l l in s ,  Robson A. 1971. S i ze  and age composition of no r the rn  anchovies 
(EngrauZis m o r h )  i n  t h e  Ca l i fo rn i a  reduct ion  and canning f i s h e r i e s  
1968-69 season. Ca l i f .  Fish Game, 5 7 (4) : 283-289. 
Col l ins ,  Robson A. ,  and Jerome D. S p r a t t .  1969. Age determinat ion of 
nor thern  anchovies,  EngrauZis m o r h ,  from o t o l i t h s ,  p. 39-53. In 
t h e  nor thern  anchovy (EngrauZis mordux) and i t s  f i s h e r y  1965-68. 
Cal i f .  Dept. F ish  and Game, F i sh  Bul l . ,  (147):l-102. 
Sunada, John S. 1977. The nor thern  anchovy f i s h e r y  f o r  t h e  1975-76 
season. Ca l i f .  Dept. F ish  and Game, Mar. Resour. Tech. Rept. (39): 
1-27. 


The anchovy reduction fishery for the 1976-77 season

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The anchovy reduction fishery for the 1976-77 season

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