Atlantic Herring

Clupea harengus

Atlantic Herring

Status

Physical 

The Atlantic herring is one of 200 different species of herring worldwide. It ranges in color from steel-blue to greenish-blue. They have translucent white fins and a silver belly and sides. Adults grow to around 17 in (45.7 cm).

Habitat

Range across the North Atlantic. In North American, this spans from Labrador to North Carolina. They are a marine and brackish water fish, found along the coast and out to the continental shelf. Schools will migrate from coastal breeding grounds and overwintering habitat to feeding grounds in open water.

Feeding 

Herring are filter feeders. They primarily feed on zooplankton and copepods, coming up to the surface at night to follow the zooplankton. Herring are also an important prey species for migrating marine mammals, seabirds, and other fishes.

Atlantic Herring
Image by Chiswick Chap from Wikimedia