The stock structure of Buccaneer anchovy (Encrasicholina punctifer), is not totally understood. Distinct populations are widely distributed in the Indian Ocean (entire coast of East Africa); coasts of Pakistan and India and equally widespread in western Pacific (Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines,China, Japan; northern and eastern coasts of Australia), but there is no sufficient information available to consider this a single stock. This profile represents only the Gulf of Thailand Management Unit.

Buccaneer anchovy it is a pelagic schooling fish, with a total length of 10 cm (De Paula and Silva 1992) and a short life span of around a year (Rohdenburg 1995). The species is commonly found in the coastal waters around the Indian Ocean and in the West Pacific. It is a marine pelagic, schooling inshore but also found in oceanic waters, hundreds of miles from land. A detailed biological study is needed.