The problem of linear propagation of a time‐harmonic acoustic field in an infinite statistically homogeneous fluid is considered. The aim of this investigation is to calculate the effective constitutive parameters which determine the properties of a random fluid with respect to the mean field for the case of strong fluctuations of density and compressibility. This is achieved by using a bilocal approximation and a renormalization method. Special emphasis of the present paper is devoted to statistically anisotropic perturbations. It is shown, through analytic examples, that the statistical anisotropy of strong density fluctuations essentially modifies the random medium effective properties compared to the case of statistically isotropic perturbations, and has a significant effect on propagation characteristics of the mean acoustic field.