White Sea herring

White Sea herring (Clupea harengus) is a species of herring found in the White Sea, an inlet of the Barents Sea on the northwest coast of Russia. This fish is a significant part of the local ecosystem and has been a staple in the diet of the indigenous people of the region for centuries.

Description

White Sea herring are small to medium-sized fish, typically measuring between 20 and 40 centimeters in length. They have a silver-blue color on their back, which fades to a silver-white on their belly. Like all herring, they have a single dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail.

Habitat and Distribution

White Sea herring are found throughout the White Sea, which is bordered by the Karelia and Arkhangelsk Oblast regions of Russia. They prefer cooler waters and are most commonly found at depths of 50 to 200 meters.

Diet

The diet of the White Sea herring primarily consists of plankton, small crustaceans, and fish larvae. They are filter feeders, using their gill rakers to strain food particles from the water.

Economic Importance

White Sea herring are commercially fished and are a significant part of the local economy. They are typically caught using purse seine nets. The fish are processed and sold both locally and internationally, often in the form of canned or smoked products.

Conservation Status

While the White Sea herring is not currently listed as threatened or endangered, overfishing and changes in water temperature due to climate change could potentially impact their populations in the future.

See Also

• Herring
• White Sea
• Barents Sea
• Fisheries in Russia