Most anchovies harvested are used for reduction as meal, oil, or soluble protein products, or used as live bait. Fisheries have been limited more by prices and markets than by biological constraints. In the ocean, Oregon has no regulations specifically for anchovy. They are regulated as an ocean food fish. In the Columbia River, anchovies may be taken for commercial purposes at any time seaward of the Astoria Bridge with purse, lampara, and round haul seines with minimum mesh restrictions.
Current regulations have no limit on live bait catch and a quota for other non-reduction uses.
The regulations also specify an OY for the reduction fishery ranging from zero to 220,000 tons depending on the size of the spawning population. Anchovies are also included in the draft of the PFMC's management plan for pelagic species. The plan is presently not in effect, but as of their August 1994 meeting, the Council is considering completing the draft plan in the near future. Suggestions For Future Management Recommended options in PFMC management plans use relative high cutoff levels to maintain high anchovy biomass levels for use a forage. The effect on the marine ecosystem of harvesting large amounts of an important food item for so many species is unknown.