(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - herring, Atlantic
OTHER COMMON NAMES - sea herring, Labrador herring, sardine, sperling, brit and herring
ELEMENT CODE - 11/25/86
AOU CODE - 07/15/88
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthys,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Clupeiformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Clupeidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Clupea,
SPECIES AND SSP - harengus, harengus
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Clupea harengus harengus
AUTHORITY - Hildebrand
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 1383 and 37
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
The Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, is widely distributed in continental
waters from Labrador to Cape Hatteras.*245*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Commercial
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 1372 and 2516
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
The commercial fishery ranks among most important in the world. Annual
catches have exceeded 75,000 tons on the Atlantic coast alone *1372*.
The population is strongly retrograde by over fishing *2516*.
Atlantic herring are harvested in the western Atlantic from Canada to
Virginia. The fishery developed in the 1800's when the fish were in demand
for bait and for sardines. The United States takes small herring for
sardines and large herring for fish meal, lobster bait, and pearl essence
(made from the scales), while most Canadian herring go for meal and oil.
When the U.S.S.R. entered the western Atlantic fishery in 1961 the catch
increased markedly. Herring are taken by weirs and stop seines in inshore
waters for sardines, and by purse seines and trawls offshore.*138*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 1383
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 1383, 2491 and 3719
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, subtidal OWO
Marine, subtidal RB.
Marine, subtidal UB. 1
Estuarine, subtidal RB.
Estuarine, subtidal UB. 1
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 1383, 2491 and 3719
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
They are found mainly offshore in deeper water *1383*. They spawn in the
vicinity of bays, straights, estuaries and also oceanic banks *1383,2491,
3719*. They usually spawn over rock, pebble, or gravel bottoms, sometimes
over clay, but probably never over soft mud *1359*. They may spawn in areas
with or without vegetation *3985,2492*.
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Parasites are listed in *1211*. The eggs are sometimes deposited
on algae *1359*.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Filter Feeder
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 2516
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Plants Fruit/Seeds
General Chrysophyta Fruit/Seeds
General Bacillariophyceae Fruit/Seeds
General Animals Larva stage
General Animals Adult stage
General Crustaceans Larva stage
General Crustaceans Adult stage
General Copepods Not Specified
General Cirripeds Larva stage
General Malacostraca Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Adult stage
General Perciformes Larva stage
General See Comments; Food See Comments
Larva Plants Not Applicable
Larva Chrysophyta Not Applicable
Larva Bacillariophyceae Not Applicable
Larva Animals Larva stage
Larva Molluscs Larva stage
Larva Crustaceans Larva stage
Larva Copepods Not Specified
Larva Cirripeds Larva stage
Larva Malacostraca Not Specified
Adult Animals Larva stage
Adult Animals Adult stage
Adult Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Malacostraca Not Specified
Adult Osteichthyes Larva stage
Adult Perciformes Larva stage
Adult See Comments; Food See Comments
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 2516, 1201 and 2516
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 1201 and 2516
REFERENCES FOR LARVAE FOOD - 1201 and 2490
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
They are plankton feeders *2516*.
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
The adults feed on copepods, shrimps, and the larvae of sandeels *1201*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
COMMENTS ON LARVAE FOOD -
The larvae are visual predators *2490*. The prey size increases with
larvae size *1201*.
Food Habits - 2 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Temperature: Between 21-27 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Between 15-21 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
G Substrate: Rocks
G Substrate: Animals
G Substrate: Plants
G Relation to Substrate: Occurs on substrate [not penetrating]
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Pebble
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Gravel
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Boulders
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rubble
G Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Unknown
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
G Water Depth Preference: 100-200 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 200-500 ft.
G Coastal Features: Sand beaches
LIM Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
E Water Temperature: Between 21-27 degrees C
E Water Temperature: Between 15-21 degrees C
E Substrate: Rocks
E Substrate: Animals
E Substrate: Plants
E Relation to Substrate: Occurs on substrate [not penetrating]
E Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Specified in comments
E Coastal Features: Sand beaches
FL Water Depth Preference: 10-25 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: 25-50 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: 50-100 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: 100-200 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: 200-500 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: 500-1000 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: 1000-1500 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: Greater than 1500 ft.
FL Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
FJ Water Depth Preference: 500-1000 ft.
FJ Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
FJ Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
FA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
FA Water Depth Preference: 100-200 ft.
FA Water Depth Preference: 200-500 ft.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
FA Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
BA Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
BA Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Pebble
BA Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Gravel
BA Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rubble
BA Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Unknown
BA Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
E
G
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1359, 2493, 2506, 1383, 2494, 2495, 2491 and 37
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 2494, 1383 and 3719
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1383
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1359, 3985 and 2492
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 2495 and 3719
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING LARVAE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 3719
REFERENCES FOR EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1359, 2496, 2497, 2491, 2498 and 37
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
The salinity is typically ca. 35 ppt *2494*, and not below 2.8 ppt in
American waters *1383*. They do not spawn below 31.99 ppt or above 33.0
ppt *1383*. The adult maximum depth is about 500 meters *2494*. The larvae
were recorded at depths of 7-700 meters *3719*.
COMMENTS ON FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONTAL ASSOC_ -
Salinity is typically 35 ppt *2494*. They are found at a maximum depth
of 500 meters *2494*.
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
They breed from 0-15 degrees C *2506*, in 31.9 - 33.0 ppt salinity in
American waters *1383*. They spawn at depths from 0.3-240 meters *2507,2508*.
COMMENTS ON FEEDING JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
They are found inshore *2502*, often in estuaries *2503,2504*, but also
in the open sea *3719,2505*.
COMMENTS ON FEEDING LARVAE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
The optimum salinity is 10-15 ppt *2501*. The majority are at about 91
meters in depth *2495*.
COMMENTS ON EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
They are sometimes deposited on algae *1359*. Incubation is lengthened by
siltation and decreased salinity *2499,2500*. Laboratory studies indicate
that hatching can succeed in salinities of 5.9 to 52.5 ppt. Maximum
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
fertilization is at 25 ppt or more and hatching success is greatest at 20
to 35 ppt.*37*
Environment Associations - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
Physical description: The adult has dorsal fin rays numbering 16-22 (17-19)
anal fin rays numbering 15-21 and caudal fin rays numbering 10-13+10+9+8-9.
The pectoral fin rays number 13-21, the pelvic fin rays 6-10 and the number
of scales between the gill openings and the caudal base are ca. 56-62.
The ventral scutes are weakly developed (ca. 39-46), the vertebrae 50-59 in
number, and gill rakers 43-55. The proportions as percent SL are: Body
depth 20.0-25.8, head length 22.6-26.4, and the eye diameter 5.3-7.7. The
body is compressed, and the maxillary is rounded posteriorly, not quite
reaching the middle of the eye. The margin has minute serrae, and there are
teeth on the lower jaw, tongue, and in an oval patch on the vomer. The
dorsal fin origin is about midway along the trunk, usually closer to the
caudal base than the tip of the snout. The body is irridescent, bluish
above, and silvery on the sides and belly. The maximum length is ca. 450
mm *1229*.
Reproduction: They spawn in the vicinity of fjords, bays, straights, and
estuaries in addition to oceanic banks *1383,2491,3719*. The greatest
concentration at Georges Bank, is ca. 160 km off Cape Cod *2509*. They are
usually over rock, pebble, or gravel bottoms, and sometimes over clay,
although probably never over soft mud, in areas with or without vegetation
*3985,2492*. They are found at a depth of from 0.3-240 meters *2507,2508*.
They are often within a 50 meter contour. Fall spawners may breed farther
offshore than spring spawners *2510*. In the western North-Atlantic there
are summer-fall spawning populations from July to September or November,
which peak in September or late August *2495,2510*. Spring spawning
populations peak in May *2510*. Fecundity ranges from 3,000-261,000 eggs per
female.
Summer-fall spawners in some areas have higher production than spring
spawners *2508,2511*. Incubation takes 4.3-56 days *2499*, with the length
of incubation period depending primarily on temperature, although lengthened
by siltation and decreased salinity *2499,2500*. It takes 174 hours at 17-24
degrees C *2496*. The age at maturity ranges from 8 to possibly 9 years
*3719,2508*. The minimum size is 181-185 mm SL in American populations
*2498*. The eggs are demersal and adhesive *1383*, and sometimes deposited
on algae, anchor ropes, and free-living animals such as crabs *1359,2497*.
They are most often in large sheets on the substrate *3985*. Egg sheets may
be 1-9 layers or as much as 35 mm thick at the center *3985,2514*.
Behavior: Adults school offshore in deeper water *1383*. Some populations
move shoreward during the spawning season *1383,2494*, and they undertake
vertical migrations, rising at night and sinking by day *2497*. Movements
are typically local and probably short range *1383*. The larvae form
discrete swarms, but are ultimately dispersed by the current at lengths of
18-25 mm. *2499,2512,2515*; juveniles drift with current *1383*
Origin: This species is native *1383*.
Limiting factors: The population is strongly retrograde by overfishing
*2516*.
Aquatic/terrestrial associations: The eggs are sometimes deposited on
algae *1359*.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 1229, 1383, 2491, 3719, 2509, 2507, 2508, 3985, 2492, 2510, 2495, 2511, 2499, 2502, 2500, 2498, 1359, 2497, 2514, 2494, 2512, 2515 and 2516
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Existing Other management practices [specified in comments]
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 245
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Indications of some level of recovery has been obtained based on US and
Canadian bottom trawl surveys during 1984-1988 and reports of incidental
catches by commercial vessels. Prospects for redevelopment of the fishery
are currently being studied.*245*
The Atlantic herring fishery along the coast of North America is regulated
in Massachusetts and Maine waters.*138*
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
References
37* Kelly, K., J. Moring. 1986. Species Profiles: Life Histories and
Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates
(North Atlantic)--Atlantic Herring. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Biol. Rep. 82(11.38) pp 22.
245 * U.S. Department of Commerce. 1989. Status of the Fishery
Resources off the Northeastern United States for 1989. NOAA
Technical Memorandum NEC-72 (ed.). U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC:110.
1201* Johnston, D.D., Wildish, D.J. 1982. Effect of suspended
sediment on feeding by larval herring (Clupeia harengus harengus
L.). Bull. Environm. Contam. Toxicol. 29:261-267.
1229* Jones, P. W., Martin, F. D., Hardy, Jr. J. D. 1978.
Development of fishes of the mid-Atlantic Bight. Vol. 1. U. S.
Fish and Wildl. Serv. Washington, D. C:366.
1359* Bigelow, H.B., Schroeder, W.C. 1953. Fishes of the Gulf of
Maine. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Fish Bull. 53:1-577.
1372* Ursin, M.J. 1977. A guide to fishes of the temperate
Atlantic coast. Sunrise Book New York.
1383* Hildebrand, S.F. 1963. FISHES OF THE WESTERN NORTH
ATLANTIC. 1(3). Sear Found. Mar. Res., Mem.
2490* Blaxter, J.H.S., Staines, M. 1971. Food searching
potential in marine fish larvae. European Marine Biol. Symp.,
4th Annual Crisp, D.J.:467-481.
2491* Moore, H.E. 1898. Observations on the herring and herring
fisheries of the northeast coast, with special reference to the
vicinity of Passamaquoddy Bay. U.S. Comm. Fish Rept. 22:387-442.
2492* Tibbo, S.N., Scarratt, D.J., McMullan, P.W.G. 1963. An
investigation of herring (Clupea harengus L.) spawning using
freediving techniques. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 20(4):1067-1079.
2493* Allen, D.M., Clymer, J.P.,III. 1978. FISHES OF THE
HEREFORD INLET ESTUARY, SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. Wetland Inst. and
Leigh Univ NJ.
2494* Holliday, F.G.T., Blaxter, J.H.S. 1961. The effects of
salinity on herring after metamorphosis. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc.
U.K. 44:711-723.
2495* Boyar, H.C., Marak, R.R., Clifford, R.A. 1973. Seasonal
distribution and growth of larval herring (Clupea harengus) in
the Georges Bank-Gulf of Maine area from 1962-1970. J. Cons.
Cons. Int. Explor. Mer 35(1):36-51.
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
2496* Krevanovski, S.G. 1956. Materials on the development of
fish of the herring family. Stud. A. N. Severtorva Inst. Anim.
Morphol., Soviet Acad. Sci. 17:73-146.
2497* Runnstrom, S. 1941. Quantitative investigations on herring
spawning and its yearly fluctuations at the west coast of
Norway. Fiskerdir. Skr. Ser. Havunders (Rept. Norwegian R Fish.
Mar. Invest.) 6(8):1-71.
2498* Parrish, B.B., Saville, A., Craig, R.E., Baxter, I.G.,
Priestly, R. 1959. Observations on herring spawning and larval
distribution in the Firth of Clyde in 1958. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc.
U.K 38(3):445-453.
2499* Toom, M.M. 1962. Experiments in the incubation of Baltic
herring eggs. Israel Program for Sci. Transl Jerusalem:13.
2500* Holliday, F.G.T., Blaxter, J.H.S. 1960. The effect of
salinity on the developing eggs and larvae of the herring. J.
Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 39:591-603.
2502* Blaxter, J.H.S., Holliday, F.G.T. 1963. The behavior and
physiology of herring and other clupeids. Advances in marine
biology 1Russell, F.S. Academic Press NY.
2506* Das, N. 1968. Spawning, distribution, survival, and growth
of larval herring (Clupea harengus L.) in relation to
hydrographic conditions in the bay of Fundy. Fish. Res. Board
Can. Tech. Rept. (88):129.
2507* Tibbo, S.N. 1956. Populations of the herring (Clupea
harengus L.) in Newfoundland waters. J. Fish. Res. Board Can.
13(4):449-466.
2508* Marty, Y.Y. 1959. The fundamental stages of the life cycle
of Atlantic-Scandinavian herring. Herring of the North European
Basin and adjacent seas Scattergood, L.W. U.S. Fish Wildl.
Serv., Spec. Rept. Fish. 327:5-68.
2509* Scattergood, L.W., Sindermann, C.J., Skud, B.E. 1959.
Spawning of the North Atlantic herring. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.
88:165-168.
2510* Messieh, S.N. 1975. Maturation and spawning of Atlantic
herring (Clupea harengus harengus) in the southern Gulf of St.
Lawrence. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32(1):66-68.
2511* Messieh, S.N. 1976. Fecundity studies on Atlantic herring
from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and along Nava Scotia
coast. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 105(3):384-394.
2512* John, C.C. 1932. The origin of erythrocytes in herring
References - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species herring, Atlantic
Species Id M010044
Date 27 AUG 96
(Clupea harengus). Proc. R. Soc. Lond., B Biol. Sci.
110:112-119.
2514* Bowers, A.B. 1969. Spawning beds of Manx autumn herrings.
J. Fish. Biol. 1(4):355-359.
2515* Liamin, K.A. 1959. Investigations into the life-cycle of
summer-spawning herring of Iceland. Herring of the North
European basin and adjacent seas. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Spec.
Sci. Rept. Fish. 327:166-202.
2516* Knorr, G., Schlosser, E., Sturm, C.D. 1980. Clupea
harengus, Linnaeus, 1758=Hering=Hering. P. Parey Hamburg.
3719* Svetovidov, A.N. 1963. Fauna of the U.S.S.R., fishes.
Clupeidae. 2. Inst. Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. (translation by Nat.
Sci. Found. and Smithsonian Inst.):428.
3985* McKenzie, R.A. 1964. Observations on herring spawning off
southwest Nova Scotia. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 21(1):203-204.
References - 3