Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus)

Biology

Nerito-pelagic. Schooling in coastal waters, with complex feeding and spawning migrations whose timing and extent correlate with the more or less distinct races recognizable on morphological grounds. Feed on small planktonic copepods in the first year, thereafter mainly on copepods. A facultative zooplanktivorous filter-feeder, i.e., it can switch to filter-feeding if the food density and particle size are appropriate. Spend the day in deeper water, but rise to the surface at night. They find their food by visual sense. Feeding and growth are very low during winter. Mature sexually at age 3-9 years. At least one population spawns in any one month of the year. Eggs are laid on substrate. They can be divided into several different stocks and races. The most important races in the East Atlantic are the winter-spawning

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