Top European Anchovy Fishing Countries

The European anchovy (*Engraulis encrasicolus*) is a small, schooling pelagic fish found in the coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. Known for its commercial value and culinary uses, especially in Mediterranean cuisine, the European anchovy supports a significant fishing industry. The top European anchovy fishing countries are Spain, Italy, France, and Turkey, with Spain and Italy traditionally leading in both catch volumes and processing, particularly in regions such as the Bay of Biscay and the Ligurian Sea. These countries employ purse seine and lampara nets to harvest anchovies, with much of the catch processed into salted, canned, or marinated products for both domestic consumption and export. The industry is subject to strict quotas and seasonal closures to ensure sustainability due to the anchovy’s sensitivity to environmental changes and historical instances of stock collapse.

RankCountryMetric Tons
1Ghana168,524
2Türkiye125,980
3Georgia68,500
4Spain43,891
5Italy24,223
6Russian Federation19,513
7Morocco19,064
8Croatia13,912
9Greece12,818
10Egypt5,319
11Portugal3,608
12Togo2,828
13Tunisia2,645
14Senegal2,200
15Algeria1,230
16France1,161
17Mauritania1,100
18Albania987
19Ireland520
20Lebanon410
21Denmark303
22Belize200
23Bulgaria153
24Montenegro110
25Sierra Leone90
26United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland33
27Romania30
28Liberia28
29Netherlands (Kingdom of the)1
29Ukraine1

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.