Atlantic herring

Its predators are marine mammals, seabirds and a number of species of fish. Among mammals there are of course humans, seals (including eared seals) and whales (like porpoises, killer whales and baleen whales). Seabirds include the northern gannet, the puffin, the razorbill, the common tern and the Arctic tern. Among fish, cod, salmon, mackerel, tuna, pollock, haddock, swordfish, redfish, striped bass, skate, sharks and flatfish are some of its predators.

Herring is fished for consumption and for bait. The caught fish are exported, either fresh or once they’ve been smoked, frozen, pickled or brined. They’re also canned under the name “sardines.” Fish that are often wrongly called “sardines” are in fact small Atlantic herrings. True sardines live along European coasts and were first fished by the Greeks in Mediterranean waters surrounding Sardinia, thus their name. Atlantic herring is also fished for its eggs.

Products from the Canadian herring fishery are earmarked essentially for markets in Japan, the United States, and the Dominican Republic. On the other hand, sale of its eggs is limited to Japan, where they’re highly appreciated.