Atlantic herring
Clupea harengus
Atlantic herring is a schooling fish that turns zooplankton production into food for seabirds, whales, cod, and other predators.
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About this species
Species identity
Clupea harengus is a pelagic North Atlantic fish that feeds on plankton and often gathers in huge schools. In Norwegian waters it is one of the main links between lower and upper trophic levels.
Where it lives
Atlantic herring occurs across the North Atlantic and is especially important in the Norwegian Sea and nearby shelf systems. It gathers in large mobile schools that track plankton-rich currents and seasonal feeding areas.
Role in the ecosystem
Atlantic herring is one of the clearest examples of a forage fish linking plankton-rich currents to top predators.
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