Herring
D-Hering; GB-Herring; DK-Sild; PL-Śledź oceaniczny; LT-Silkė; LV-Siļķe; EST-Heeringas; RU-Атлантическая сельдь; FIN-Silli; S-Sill
Characters
1) Mouth opening not reaching up to the heigth of caudal eye edge.
2) Abdominal keel not serrated
3) Origin of pelvic fins behind origin of dorsal fin.
●) Mouth superior (lower jaw overlapping upper jaw).
●) Body blueish or greenish silvern, back darker.
Often about 30 cm length, max. up to 45 cm length and 1 kg weight.
Similar species
Sprat - Pelvic fin starts in front of dorsal fin origin; belly serrated.
Allis shad - mouth larger, reaching beyond posterior margin of eye.
Twaite shad - mouth larger, reaching beyond posterior margin of eye.
European anchovy - mouth clearly inferior.
Biology
Lives in large schoals in free waters, up to 200 m depth. During day time often in deeper areas, at night foraging near to the surface. After spawning the eggs sink on the ground and often build up thick layers.Diet
They feed on mollusca and crustaceans and their larvae.Importance
Of high commercial importance as food fish, in fish oil and fish meal production. Over 300.000 t of Atlantic herring are caught every year in the Baltic sea.Endangerment
Strong fishing pressure and climate change result in declining stocks.Clupea harengus
