Pacific herring

Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)

Few species of fish are of greater ecological importance than the Pacific herring, a species central to the diet of many birds, fish, and marine mammals. It is a silvery fish with unspined fins and a deeply forked caudal fin. Clupea pallasii is sometimes considered a keystone species because of its very high productivity and interactions with a large number of predators and prey. Pacific herring spawn in variable seasons, but often in the early part of the year in intertidal and sub-tidal environments, commonly on eelgrass or other submerged vegetation; however, they do not die after spawning, but can breed in successive years. According to government sources, the Pacific herring fishery collapsed in the year 1993, and is slowly recovering to commercial viability in several North American stock areas.

Pacific Hering Distribution