Ilisha africana
Ilisha africana, known as the West African ilisha or African ilisha, is a small fish in the longfin herring family. It lives along the western coast of Africa, in the sea as well as in lagoons and estuaries from Senegal to Angola. It can tolerate brackish water and stays near the surface, usually within 25 meters deep.
Most individuals are 13–18 cm long, but it can grow to about 30 cm and weigh around 144 grams. It has large eyes and an upward-facing mouth. The dorsal fin sits around the middle of the body and has 14–17 soft rays; the long anal fin has 45–50 soft rays, and the body has bony scutes.
Ilisha africana feeds on shrimps, small fishes, and planktonic crustaceans. It is found year‑round and is common along much of its range, especially near the Republic of the Congo coast.
The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though some populations may decline in parts of its range; overall, the species is considered stable.
It is caught commercially by seine nets, gillnets, and trawls, and sold fresh or frozen or used for fishmeal. It is often caught as bycatch in shrimp fisheries; for example, a 2002 study in Nigeria found it made up more than 8% of shrimp trawler bycatch.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 04:18 (CET).