Herring

Herring are forage fish, mostly belonging to the family of Clupeidae.

Herring

Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus

Global commercial capture of herrings
in million tonnes reported by the FAO 1950–2010[1]

Herring often move in large schools around fishing banks and near the coast, found particularly in shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans, including the Baltic Sea, as well as off the west coast of South America. Three species of Clupea (the type genus of the herring family Clupeidae) are recognised, and comprise about 90% of all herrings captured in fisheries. The most abundant of these species is the Atlantic herring, which comprises over half of all herring capture. Fish called herring are also found in the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal.

Herring played an important role in the history of marine fisheries in Europe,[2] and early in the 20th century, their study was fundamental to the development of fisheries science.[3][4] These oily fish[5] also have a long history as an important food fish, and are often salted, smoked, or pickled.

Herring are also known as "silver darlings".[6]