Herring

1. What is it?

Herring ( Clupea harengus are small schooling fish that migrate from the coast during winter and spawning to open water during the summer. The stock status differs depending on the area resulting in different assessments for each area and potentially a different outcome (See below). Stock status ranges from sustainably fished or fully fished (mainly Green-listed areas) to over-exploited (Orange listed areas).

2. How was it caught or farmed?

Midwater trawl

Herring is caught using midwater trawl nets. Midwater trawling takes place in the pelagic zone between the seabed and surfaces. The fishery has no impact on Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species. Bycatch and discards are considered to be low. There is no impact on benthic habitats.

Purse seine

Herring is also caught using purse seine nets. This fishery is highly mono-specific therefore the Impact on Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species is considered to be highly unlikely. Discards and bycatch are negligible and are banned in both the EU and Norway however in purse seines slippage is allowed under certain circumstances. Habitat damage does not occur.

3. Where is it from?

Midwater trawl

Herring is caught in the Northern Atlantic Ocean FAO 27 and imported into South Africa. FAO 27 sits within the Northern Atlantic Ocean and borders a number of countries surrounding Europe. FAO 27 is further subdivided into smaller management areas known as ICES areas. Each of these areas has a slightly different management resulting in different assessments and potentially different outcomes (See below). Management in all ICES areas is considered to be largely effective.

The following ICES areas are listed as Green on the SASSI list:

• ICES-28.1:Gulf of Riga,
• ICES–I,
• ICES–II,
• ICES–IlIa,
• ICES–IV,
• ICES–IVa,
• ICES–V,
• ICES–VIla,
• ICES–VIld,
• ICES–XIVa: Norwegian Spawning Spring stock,
• ICES–7a, North of 52°30’ N – Irish Sea
• ICES–VIIa,
• ICES–g-k:Irish, Celtic Sea, South of Ireland
• and ICES–30

. The following ICES areas are listed as Orange on the SASSI list:

• ICES–VIaS
• ICES–Vlla-VIIbc
• ICES–VIIb
• and ICES–VIIc.

Purse seine

Herring is caught in FAO 27 and imported into South Africa. FAO 27 sits within the Northern Atlantic Ocean and borders a number of countries surrounding Europe. FAO 27 is further subdivided into smaller management areas known as ICES areas. Each of these areas has a slightly different management resulting in different assessments and potentially different outcomes (See below). Management in all the ICES areas is considered to be largely effective.

The following ICES areas are listed as Green on the SASSI list:

• ICES–VIa:Iceland and East Greenland EEZ,
• ICES– I,
• ICES–II,
• ICES–IVa,
• ICES–V
• and ICES–XIVa:Norwegian Spawning Spring stock,
• ICES– IIIa
• ICES–IV
• and ICES–VIId:North Sea.

The following ICES areas are listed as Orange on the SASSI list:

• ICES–VIaS,
• ICES–VIIb
• and ICES–VIIc.