Herring

Herring are various species of forage fish that belong to the order Clupeiformes. They are often found moving in large schools near coastal areas, especially in shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Other places where herring can be found include the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal.

Three main species of herring make up about 90% of all herring caught by fisheries. The most common is the Atlantic herring, which accounts for more than half of all herring caught. These fish have been very important in the history of fishing in Europe. In the early 1900s, studying herring helped scientists develop the field of fisheries science.

Herring are also valued as food. They have been eaten for a long time and are often salted, smoked, or pickled to preserve them. In the United Kingdom, herring were nicknamed "silver darlings" because of their importance.

Species

Many different species, mostly from the family Clupeidae, are called herrings. The name "herring" might come from an old word meaning "host" or "multitude," because they often swim in big groups.

The main types of herring are the Atlantic herring, found in the North Atlantic, and the Pacific herring, found in the North Pacific. Some other fish are also called herrings, like the lake herring, even though they are not exactly the same as the main types. What people call a herring can change depending on where they live.

Characteristics

Herrings are silvery-coloured fish that belong to a family with about 200 species, including shads, sardines, and menhadens. They have a single soft dorsal fin without spines and a protruding lower jaw, but no lateral line. Their size varies: the Baltic herring is small, about 14 to 18 cm (5.5 to 7 inches), while the Atlantic herring can grow up to about 46 cm (18 in) and the Pacific herring up to about 38 cm (15 in).

Main article: Clupea
Main articles: Shad, Sardine, Menhaden

Life cycle

Herring have an interesting life cycle that begins when they lay eggs on the sea bed. These eggs stick to things like rocks, sand, or seaweed and need gentle water movement to survive. After about two weeks, depending on the temperature, the eggs hatch into tiny larvae that are almost see-through.

As the larvae grow, they develop fins and their bodies become less transparent. By the time they are about four inches long, they look more like adult herring. It usually takes three years for herring to be old enough to lay their own eggs.

Ecology

Herrings eat small creatures like copepods, arrow worms, pelagic amphipods, mysids, and krill that live in the open water. As they grow, they also eat phytoplankton and tiny animals called zooplankton, including small fish and fish eggs. Herring usually stay deep during the day to avoid predators and come up to feed at night.

Many animals rely on herring for food, including seabirds, dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals, sea lions, and big fish like sharks, tuna, salmon, and cod. These predators often work together to round up schools of herring into tight groups, making it easier to catch them.

Fisheries

Adult herring are caught for their flesh and eggs, and they are also used as baitfish. The trade of herring is very important for many countries. In Europe, herring is called the "silver of the sea" because it has been one of the most important fisheries in history.

As food

Herring has been an important food source for thousands of years. People enjoy eating herring in many different ways, such as raw, fermented, pickled, or smoked as kippers.

Herring are rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. However, water pollution can affect how much herring is safe to eat because of contaminants like PCBs and dioxins. The size of the fish matters, with smaller herring being safer to eat more often.

History

Herring have been very important throughout history, both socially and economically. During the Middle Ages, herring helped lead to the creation of cities like Great Yarmouth, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. In 1274, the famous thinker Thomas Aquinas asked for fresh herring when he was ill. In Scotland, the herring industry grew to become a big part of the economy, especially around the North Sea. The industry peaked in the late 19th century, with places like Shetland and its town Lerwick becoming well-known for herring fishing.