Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Also known as Herring, Sea herring, Sild, Common herring, Labrador herring, Sardine, Sperling
Culinary Profile
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
The meat of fresh herring is soft.
Atlantic herring are a great source of omega-3s, vitamin B12, and iron.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Atlantic herring are small schooling fish. They are silvery in color, with a bluish or greenish-blue back.
Biology
Atlantic herring are one of nearly 200 herring species in the family Clupeidae . They grow quickly, up to 14 inches. They can live up to 15 years. They are able to reproduce when they reach age 4. Atlantic herring migrate in schools to areas where they feed, spawn, and spend the winter.
Where They Live
Range Atlantic herring are found on both sides of the North Atlantic. In the western North Atlantic, they are found from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Habitat Atlantic herring are found in coastal and continental shelf waters. Fishery Management The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission coordinates management of the herring fishery in state waters, and the New England Fishery Management Council man…
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round. Most of the herring eaten in the United States is canned and either pickled or smoked.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to North Carolina.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of Atlantic herring totaled approximately 21.7 million pounds and were valued at $8.4 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . During the past decade, the United States has accounted for 78 percent of the total herring harvest, with Canada harvesting the remainder. The Atlantic herring fishery is extremely valuable to the economy in the Northeast United States. Herring are sold frozen, salted, or canned as sardines in both U.S. and international markets and provide affordable bait to fishermen targeting lobster, blue crab, and tuna.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 104 Species
Where Atlantic Herring ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 EPA | 969 mg | 2 / 104 | 98% |
| Vitamin B12 | 10 µg | 9 / 106 | 92% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 689 mg | 11 / 104 | 89% |
| Iron | 1.12 mg | 20 / 111 | 82% |
| Phosphorus | 228 mg | 31 / 111 | 72% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Zinc | 0.53 mg | 45 / 111 | 59% |
| Protein | 16.39 g | 82 / 111 | 26% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Atlantic Herring.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Atlantic Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Both wild-caught and farmed striped bass have a slightly sweet flavor.
Similar by Flavour: Other Delicate-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the delicate flavour profile of Atlantic Herring, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Atlantic Pollock
Pollachius virens
Sweet and delicate.
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata
Mild, fresh, somewhat delicate flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Crimson Jobfish ('Ōpakapaka)
Pristipomoides filamentosus
Crimson jobfish has a delicate flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Atlantic Herring found?
Range Atlantic herring are found on both sides of the North Atlantic. In the western North Atlantic, they are found from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Habitat Atlantic herring are found in coastal and continental shelf waters. Fishery Management The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission coordinates management of the herring fishery in state waters, and the New England Fishery Ma…
Is Atlantic Herring a good source of iron?
Per 100 g raw, Atlantic Herring provides 1.12 mg of iron — the protein matrix in fish flesh makes this heme iron, which absorbs more efficiently than the non-heme iron in plant sources.
What is the stock status of Atlantic Herring?
The stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth.
How does Atlantic Herring reproduce?
Atlantic herring are one of nearly 200 herring species in the family Clupeidae . They grow quickly, up to 14 inches. They can live up to 15 years. They are able to reproduce when they reach age 4. Atlantic herring migrate in schools to areas where they feed, spawn, and spend the winter.
How much protein is in 100 g of Atlantic Herring?
A 100 g raw serving of Atlantic Herring provides 16.39 g of protein — roughly 33% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic herring is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2024 stock assessment, Atlantic herring is overfished, but not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART . Herring populations are naturally highly variable.
Population
The stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gears used to harvest Atlantic herring have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission coordinates management of the herring fishery in state waters, and the New England Fishery Management Council manages the fishery in federal waters. The two entities develop their regulations in close coordination.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.