Where Does Japanese anchovy Live?

Japanese anchovy lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Japanese anchovy

Water type

saltwater

Depth

Typically found in coastal waters, from the surface down to about 100 meters (330 feet), though most commonly in the upper 50 meters.

Environment

Pelagic, neritic (coastal open water). Forms large, dense schools in bays, estuaries, and open coastal areas. Prefers temperate to subtropical waters.

Geographic range

Western Pacific Ocean, from the Sea of Okhotsk and Sakhalin Island south along the coasts of Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan, extending to the Philippines and the South China Sea.

Explore Japanese anchovy