Atlantic herring

The stock of herring has been well studied and regularly assessed in most of the areas evaluated. Although the status varies between the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, Icelandic waters, the Baltic Sea and the eastern coast of Canada, most stocks remain sustainable, although some are under pressure due to declining biomass or low recruitment.

Of the assessed fishing methods, midwater otter trawls, purse seines and fyke nets are among the most sustainable choices. These pelagic fisheries cause little bycatch and have little or no impact on the seabed. However, fishing can locally affect the food web because herring is an important prey species for many other animals.

Management is generally well developed. Most stocks are intensively monitored and managed based on scientific advice, although catch quotas do not always fully follow that advice. A large proportion of the assessed herring fisheries are MSC certified.

The stock of herring in the western and central Baltic Sea has been under severe pressure for many years. Spawning biomass is below the safe limit, and recruitment of young herring is at a historically low level, meaning that recovery has not occurred despite lower fishing pressure.

Of the assessed fishing methods, fyke nets and drifting gillnets are among the methods that cause the least disturbance to the seabed. Midwater otter trawls do not come into contact with the seabed. Nevertheless, none of these fishing methods is currently a responsible choice because the herring stock is in poor condition. Gillnets also pose a risk to harbour porpoises and seabirds. In addition, all assessed fisheries can affect the food web because herring is an important prey species.

Management is only partially effective. The stocks are well monitored, but catch limits do not always align with scientific advice, and international agreements are not always respected. Some of the assessed herring fisheries are MSC certified.

The stocks of herring in the different assessed areas are under pressure. Herring in the Bothnian Bay and Norwegian spring-spawning herring are particularly affected by low spawning biomass and limited recovery potential. The stock in the central Baltic Sea is also below the precautionary biomass limit, meaning that recovery depends on the development of new year classes.

The assessed fyke nets and uncovered pound nets have a low impact on the seabed but can contribute to threats to waterbirds. Purse seines pose a low to moderate risk of bycatch of protected species, while releasing caught fish can cause additional mortality. Midwater otter trawls have little impact on the seabed, but catching large quantities of herring can disrupt the food web. Lost fishing gear and ghost fishing are also concerns.

Management varies in effectiveness. Although stocks are monitored and management plans and catch limits are in place, scientific advice is not always followed and permitted catches are regularly exceeded. There are also shortcomings in regulatory compliance, reporting and monitoring of lost fishing gear.

Several Atlantic herring fisheries are MSC(EN) MSC:
Marine Stewardship Council, an independent, international non-profit organization that has developed an eco-label that guarantees well-managed, sustainable fisheries. Fish products that meet the criteria of the eco-label can be identified by the blue MSC logo.-certified in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. A large proportion of herring on the Dutch market carries the MSC-logo. MSC-certified herring is caught with pelagicPelagic trawls:
In pelagic trawling, a trawl is pulled through the water column. The net is not towed across the seabed. trawls and pursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'.   seines. Both fishing methods have little impact on the seabed. As herring can be caught in large schools, the level of bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).   is also often small.

The herringstockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period.  s in these areas are currently not at a sustainableSustainable:
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising opportunities for future generations. This also allows future generations to benefit from the same needs. level. They are either overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term.   or in danger of being overfished.

Fishing with pelagicPelagic trawls:
In pelagic trawling, a trawl is pulled through the water column. The net is not towed across the seabed. trawls and purse seines is highly unlikely to have a major impact on the ecosystem and other species. Since herring is a shoal fish, most of the catch consists only of herring with little bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).   of other species.

While herring are well monitored in this area, managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured. is not in line with scientific advice. Management of this species is partially effective.