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Atlantic Herring
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Sea herring, Sardine, Sperling
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- Biology & Habitat
- Science & Management
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- Sustainability Summary
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Sourcing Summary
Fresh herring have a short shelf life, around five days from capture, and should be sold immediately after purchasing. Atlantic herring has a high oil content and a soft, fine texture when cooked fresh. It is also sold cured with smoke, salt, or other spices. Herring are highly perishable so most are sold canned and frozen as whole fish, and as skin-on, bone-in fillet. Some fresh Atlantic herring are sold in wholesale markets in large metropolitan areas on the East Coast. Atlantic herring are caught mostly between May and October off the U.S. and Canada but canned and frozen herring are available year-round.
Harvest Methods
Wild
Product Forms
Fresh
- Whole
Frozen
- Fillet (skin-on, bone-in)
- Whole
Flavor
Texture
Oil
Health & Nutrition
Nutrition facts
- Calories158.00
- Total Fat9.00g
- Cholesterol60.00mg
- Sodium90.00mg
- Carbohydrates3.10g
- Protein18.00g
- Omega-31.60g
Atlantic herring are one of almost 200 herring species. These small schooling fish grow quickly, up to 14 inches (35.5 cm) in length and up to 15 years old. They reach maturity at four years, spawning from August to November, depending on their location.
Atlantic herring migrate from summer feeding waters to spawning waters in the fall. Females deposit 30,000-200,000 eggs onto the ocean bottom. Because of the large amounts of eggs produced by schools of herring at a time, a dense, thick layer covers the ocean floor. The eggs hatch after two to three weeks. The larvae then enter the water column where they remain for up to eight months. Herring are one of the few species that perform vertical migrations as larvae, doing so depending on the time of day, currents, or availability of prey. Vertical migrations also help them prevent displacement by tidal currents. Juveniles and adults perform vertical migrations based on changes in light and in response to their prey. Herring move deeper when it is lighter out to potentially avoid predation by seabirds.
Herring eggs are prey to a variety of bottom-dwelling fish, such as winter flounder, cod, haddock, and red hake. Juveniles and adults are prey to a variety of fish, sharks, skates, marine mammals, and seabirds. Herring feed upon zooplankton, krill, and fish larvae.
Atlantic herring are found on both sides of the North Atlantic. Along North America, they are found from Labrador, Canada to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina – being most abundant north of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Atlantic herring inhabit estuarine, coastal, and continental shelf waters from the sea surface to depths of up to 1,312 feet (400 meters). They are most common in depths from 36 to 656 feet (11 to 200 meters). Atlantic herring migrate in large schools to areas where they feed, spawn, and spend the winter. Adults prefer waters from 32-68° Fahrenheit (0-20° Celsius) in inshore waters and between 37-51° Fahrenheit (2.5-10.5° Celsius) on the continental shelf. Atlantic herring spawn as early as August in Nova Scotia and in eastern Maine and from October to November in the southern Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Nantucket Shoals. During spawning, Atlantic herring prefer colder waters ranging from 41-48° Fahrenheit (5-9° Celsius). Adult herring will migrate south from summer and fall spawning grounds and will spend the winter months in southern New England and the US Mid-Atlantic.
- WildScience:
NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NFSC) has been studying larval herring abundances since 1971. In US waters, Atlantic herring are assessed and managed as a single stock complex with two major spawning components. A study done in 2011 has found that Atlantic herring population trends are linked to the size of the haddock population. It has also been observed that egg predation by haddock can affect population levels in Georges Bank herring. The threshold herring population size is dependent on the haddock population size, meaning reducing fishing on herring may not be sufficient in the recovery of the population.
Herring populations are highly variable, possibly due to changing environmental conditions. A new acoustic tool was recently developed to monitor herring populations. A 2006 experiment studied the formation of herring clusters during spawning season at Georges Bank, their movements, and internal interactions. The researchers at NOAA’s NFSC believe that Atlantic herring form shoals using coordinated communication to avoid predators, and because it may be advantageous for group feeding and spawning.
Research needs for Atlantic herring include:
- Surveys to determine larval abundance and distribution throughout the Gulf of Maine
- Experimental studies of temperature and salinity preferences, mostly for US stocks
- Mapping the distribution of seabed habitat types and significant spawning areas
- Determining the effects of bottom-tending fishing gears and natural processes on spawning grounds
- Determining the value of marine protected areas for conserving and enhancing herring stocks
Management:NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) manage the Atlantic herring fishery in federal waters with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) coordinating management of the herring fishery in state waters. The two entities develop their regulations in close coordination and will jointly implement quotas, catch caps, and other management measures. Individual Atlantic states are responsible for implementing regulations recommended by the ASMFC while NOAA is responsible for implementing regulations recommended by the NEFMC.
The US Atlantic herring fishery is managed under the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring. Under the FMP, fishery managers undertake regular stock assessments (every one to three years) for Atlantic herring and set annual catch limits for the entire fishery based on the results of those assessments. Managers then divide the total catch limit into four management areas each with its own specific area limit. These areas are: Area 1A in the Gulf of Maine, Area 1B from Cape Cod to the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Area 2 inshore south of Nantucket, and Area 3 south of Cape Cod to Georges Bank. Once a specific area limit is reached, the directed fishery in that area is closed and only incidental catch of Atlantic herring is then allowed. The fishery operates in Area 1A, 1B, and 3 in the summer and in Areas 2 and 3 in the winter. Among other measures the plan addresses are:
- A limited access permit program – limiting the number of vessels participating in the fishery (those vessels who do not qualify for a limited access permit can be issued a open access permit and still harvest a small amount of herring – 6,600 pounds – per day or per trip).
- Limits to the number of herring a vessel can possess in one day or one trip
- Measures to reduce marine mammal interactions
There are differences in management measures undertaken by the ASMFC and NEFMC. The NEFMC prohibits midwater trawling from June 1 to September 30 in federal waters while the ASMFC operates using area closures to protect spawning herring and a “days out” program that limits the number of days each week a vessel may fish for herring in state waters.
The majority of the Atlantic herring harvest (about 78 percent) occurs in the US – with Canada accounting for the remainder of the catch. The fishery is considered extremely valuable to the economy of the US Northeast. According to a 2015 stock assessment, Atlantic herring are not overfished nor subject to overfishing. The 2015 stock assessment also concluded that spawning stock biomass is well above target levels.
Impact on Stock
Atlantic herring tend to return to natal spawning grounds, making them susceptible to fishing pressure. However, females have an average fecundity for fin-fish, which helps with resiliency. Herring’s high fat content makes it an important food source for marine mammals, birds, and a number of fish.
Overfishing and exploitation in the 1960s caused the Atlantic herring fishery to collapse in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, the stocks have been recovering and current harvest rates are considered sustainable, according to the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service.
Habitat Impacts
Atlantic herring are primarily caught by mid-water trawlers and purse seines, as well as fixed traps called weirs. These fishing methods cause minimal damage to marine habitats because they don’t usually have contact with the seafloor, according to the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service.
Bycatch
It is reported that bycatch in the Atlantic Herring fishery is low, consisting mostly of herring that’s undersized, spawning, or caught after the vessel has filled to capacity. Other bycatch include spiny dogfish, redfish, mackerel, haddock, pollock, and cod. Documented bycatch of mammals in the Atlantic herring fishery has occurred, but for a long time it was difficult to determine the extent of the fishery’s impacts on sea mammals. Observer coverage was increased as a result.
Management Effectiveness
Since 2005, population assessments and analysis have been conducted to evaluate the effects of management actions. In 2006, fishery managers became concerned about an increase in fishing pressure on Atlantic herring, especially in the Gulf of Maine inshore area, and proactively proposed a limited access program for all herring management areas.
Origin | Harvest Method | Sustainability Ratings | FIP Source |
---|---|---|---|
Atlantic Ocean - Northeast | Purse Seine | ||
Baltic Sea (Central) | Gillnet | ||
Baltic Sea (Central) | Purse Seine | ||
Baltic Sea (Central) | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Bothnian Bay | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Bothnian Sea | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Canada - Bay of Fundy | Purse Seine | ||
Canada - Bay of Fundy (FIP) | Purse Seine |
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|
Canada - Gulf of St. Lawrence | Gillnet | ||
Denmark - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Denmark - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Trap Net | ||
Denmark - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Gillnet | ||
Denmark - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Denmark - North Sea (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Denmark - North Sea (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Denmark - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Gillnet | ||
Denmark - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Denmark - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Denmark - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Trap Net | ||
Denmark - Western Baltic (MSC) | Gillnet | ||
Denmark - Western Baltic (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Denmark - Western Baltic (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Denmark - Western Baltic (MSC) | Trap Net | ||
European Union (FIP) | Hydraulic Hook and Line |
|
|
European Union (FIP) | Midwater Trawl |
|
|
European Union (FIP) | Purse Seine - Unassociated |
|
|
Faroe Islands (FIP) | Hydraulic Hook and Line |
|
|
Faroe Islands (FIP) | Midwater Trawl |
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Faroe Islands (FIP) | Purse Seine - Unassociated |
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France - English Channel (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
France - North Sea (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Greenland (FIP) | Hydraulic Hook and Line |
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Greenland (FIP) | Midwater Trawl |
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Greenland (FIP) | Purse Seine - Unassociated |
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Gulf of Riga | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Gulf of Riga | Gillnet | ||
Gulf of Riga (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Iceland | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Iceland (FIP) | Hydraulic Hook and Line |
|
|
Iceland (FIP) | Midwater Trawl |
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Iceland (FIP) | Purse Seine - Unassociated |
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Iceland (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Iceland (MSC) | Seine | ||
Irish Sea (South), Celtic Sea, and Southwest of Ireland | Pelagic Trawl | ||
North Sea (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
North Sea and E. Eastern Channel | Drift Gillnets | ||
North Sea and E. Eastern Channel | Midwater Trawl | ||
North Sea and E. Eastern Channel | Purse Seine | ||
Northwest and West of Ireland | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Norway (FIP) | Hydraulic Hook and Line |
|
|
Norway (FIP) | Midwater Trawl |
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Norway (FIP) | Purse Seine - Unassociated |
|
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Norway - North Sea (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Norway - North Sea (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Russia (FIP) | Midwater Trawl |
|
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Russia (FIP) | Purse Seine - Unassociated |
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Russia (FIP) | Hydraulic Hook and Line |
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Skagerrak and Kattegat | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Skagerrak and Kattegat | Purse Seine | ||
Skagerrak and Kattegat, Baltic Sea (West) | Pelagic Trawl | ||
Skagerrak and Kattegat, Baltic Sea (West) | Gillnet | ||
Skagerrak and Kattegat, Baltic Sea (West) | Purse Seine | ||
Sweden - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Sweden - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Sweden - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Trap Net | ||
Sweden - Kattegat Bay (MSC) | Gillnet | ||
Sweden - North Sea (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Sweden - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Trap Net | ||
Sweden - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Gillnet | ||
Sweden - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Sweden - Skagerrak Strait (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Sweden - Western Baltic (MSC) | Gillnet | ||
Sweden - Western Baltic (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
Sweden - Western Baltic (MSC) | Purse Seine | ||
Sweden - Western Baltic (MSC) | Trap Net | ||
Unassessed Origin | Unassessed Fishing Methods | ||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Purse Seine | ||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Handline | ||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Driftnet | ||
United Kingdom - Northern Ireland - Irish Sea | Midwater Trawl | ||
United Kingdom - Northern Ireland - Irish Sea (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
United Kingdom - Northern Ireland - North Sea (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
United Kingdom - Scotland - North Sea (MSC) | Midwater Trawl | ||
United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (FIP) | Hydraulic Hook and Line |
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United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (FIP) | Midwater Trawl |
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United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (FIP) | Purse Seine - Unassociated |
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USA - Northwest Atlantic | Purse Seine | ||
USA - Northwest Atlantic | Midwater Trawl | ||
USA - Northwest Atlantic | Small Mesh Bottom Trawl | ||
West of Scotland, West of Ireland | Pelagic Trawl |
Name | Country | State/Province |
---|---|---|
Baensch Food Products | United States | Wisconsin |
Barry Group, Inc. | Canada | Newfoundland and Labrador |
Beyond the Sea Sales and Marketing, Inc. | United States | Massachusetts |
Bionic Zoo and Aquarium | ||
Calkins & Burke | Canada | British Columbia |
Caudle's Catch Seafood | Canada | Ontario |
Codfathers Seafood Market | Canada | British Columbia |
F/V Rimrack | United States | New Hampshire |
FaroeLandia Ltd. | Denmark | |
Halperns' Purveyors of Steak and Seafood | United States | Georgia |
Intercity Packers Meat & Seafood | Canada | British Columbia |
Maximum Seafood | Canada | Ontario |
McRoberts Sales Co., Inc. | United States, United States | Florida |
Mike Stahl Seafood Co LLC | United States | California |
Profish Ltd. | United States | District of Columbia |
Salties Imports | Canada | Alberta |
Sammy's Seafood Inc | United States | Florida |
Santa Monica Seafood, Inc. | United States | California |
Sea to Table, USA | United States | New York |
Seacore Seafood | Canada | Ontario |
Seafood Garden | United States | Massachusetts |
Seafreeze Ltd. | United States | Rhode Island |
Seattle Fish Co | United States | Colorado |
Seattle Fish Company - Kansas City | United States | Missouri |
Seattle Fish Company of New Mexico | United States | New Mexico |
Tradex Foods Inc. | Canada | British Columbia |
True Fin | United States | Maine |
Wheeler Seafood | United States | Washington |
Acknowledgements
- Environmental Defense Fund
- NOAA Fisheries
- Seafood Watch Program
- SeafoodSource