Scientific name
Engraulis encrasicolus
Also known as
European anchovy, acciuga, alice, boquerón, anchoa, anchois, hamsi
Main origins
Italy, Spain, Morocco, Turkey
Main season
Spring to autumn
Overview
About Anchovies
The European anchovy is a small, oily schooling fish found in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the eastern Atlantic, caught mainly by purse seine. Fresh anchovy has a rich, distinctive flavour, while salting and maturing gives the firm texture and savoury taste of cured fillets.
Italy and Spain are major producers of salted anchovies and fillets in oil, and Morocco is a large processor of salted and semi preserved fillets for European buyers. Uses range from fresh frying and marinating to pizza, sauces and delicatessen products.
Key points
- Purse seine, wild caught
- Fresh, frozen or salted
- EU grades by fish per kg
- Salted product matures for months
Origins
Where it comes from
Italy
Ligurian, Adriatic and Sicilian fisheries supply fresh anchovies and traditional salted anchovies.
Spain
The Cantabrian Sea spring fishery supplies premium anchovies for salting and fillets in oil.
Morocco
Atlantic and Mediterranean catches are processed into salted and semi preserved fillets, largely for export.
Available origins vary through the year. Contact us for current availability.
Specifications
Available formats
| Product forms | Fresh whole; frozen whole; salted whole; fillets in oil; marinated fillets |
| Sizes | EU grades, fish per kg: 30 or fewer; 31/50; 51/83; 84/125 |
| Freezing | Plate frozen blocks or IQF |
| Packing | Fresh in polystyrene boxes with ice; frozen blocks in cartons; salted in tins or barrels; fillets in jars or tins |
| Season | Varies by fishery; Cantabrian Sea main fishery in spring; salted and preserved products year round |
| Certifications | MSC Cantabrian Sea purse seine anchovy; PGI Acciughe sotto sale del Mar Ligure; BRC or IFS processors |
Anchovies are a histamine risk species, so cold chain records and histamine testing should be requested. Specifications are typical for the trade and vary by origin and supplier. We source to your exact requirements.
Interested in Anchovies?
Send us your specification, volumes and destination and we will come back to you with suitable offers.