Fin's Fish Guide
The Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Clupeidae that grows up to 45 cm.
North Atlantic: from southwest Greenland and Labrador to South Carolina; Iceland and Greenland to the Bay of Biscay, eastward to Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya and the Baltic Sea.
Description
Atlantic herring is a slender, silvery schooling fish of the family Clupeidae, with a blue-green back and a streamlined body reaching 45 cm. It has a single spineless dorsal fin, a deeply forked tail and a slightly upturned mouth. The species lives pelagically across the northern Atlantic, the North Sea and the Baltic, feeding mainly on zooplankton such as copepods that it locates by sight. Herring form vast schools and spawn in spring, summer or autumn depending on the population, laying sticky eggs on the seabed. It is among the most commercially important fish in the world.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Atlantic herring?
The Atlantic herring has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Silvery flanks, projecting lower jaw and keeled ventral scales; sharp hearing and a very fast escape response as protection against predators.
Where does the Atlantic herring live?
The Atlantic herring lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. North Atlantic: from southwest Greenland and Labrador to South Carolina; Iceland and Greenland to the Bay of Biscay, eastward to Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya and the Baltic Sea.
How big does the Atlantic herring get?
The Atlantic herring grows to a maximum of about 45 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.
Is the Atlantic herring dangerous to humans?
No, the Atlantic herring is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the Atlantic herring edible?
Yes, the Atlantic herring is a highly prized food fish.
More photos
Easily confused with
These species look like the Atlantic herring and live in the same waters.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Clupea
More from the family Clupeidae
Want the complete picture on the Atlantic herring?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Atlantic herring is one of 12,519 species in the app.