Black Sea Hamsi is a general trade name of two different species of fish which are very popular at all Coasts of Our Lovely Sea.
The first one is the Azov anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus maeoticus Pusanov, 1926) and the second one is the Black Sea anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus Alexandrov, 1927).
Nowadays, both species, the Azov anchovy and the Black Sea anchovy under common trade name Black Sea Hamsi are the main fishing fish of the Black Sea fisheries basin.
Azov anchovy is a marine flocking coastal pelagic fish of Anchovies family, making regular seasonal migrations: in April-May it enters the Kerch Strait and goes into the Above Sea Sea for spawning and feeding period, and in October it leaves the Above Sea back to the Black Sea for wintering. The body fat of the Azov anchovy varies from 23 to 28%.
The Black Sea Anchovy is a marine flocking coastal pelagic fish of the anchovy family, living in the Black Sea and making seasonal migrations: in the spring to the north for spawning and feeding period, and in the fall back to the south for wintering. The body fat of the Black Sea anchovy varies from 10 to 18%.
On the market Black Sea Hamsi mostly available in fresh, salted or marinated form and in frozen after the end of fishing season.
