Atlantic Herring

Atlantic herring is one of the most important pelagic fish species of the northern hemisphere. It is naturally distributed across the North Atlantic, with the main commercial stocks found in the Northeast Atlantic, shoaling around Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the North Sea. The stocks differ by their spawning patterns, which affect the migration behaviour, seasonal abundance, fat level and overall quality.

Atlantic herring is a major commercial species for many markets. It is widely used for marinating, smoking, salting and canning.

The main fishing nations are Norway, Iceland, UK and Russia. In the Northeast Atlantic, the main commercial season generally runs from autumn into winter, often beginning in October and continuing through February or March. The average commercial size is around 250-350 grams or 25-35 cm in length.