Herring
A herring are small-headed, single dorsal fin, streamlined, beautifully silvery coloured fish on its sides and deep blue, metallic-hued backs. It is believed that there could be at least 200 species of herring family which share some distinctive features. Herrings are commonly found breeds in the shores of the Northern Atlantic Ocean, because of their North Atlantic habitat they are popularly called the Atlantic Herring.
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[edit] Reproduction
Herrings are fertilized externally meaning a female herring will release eggs and the male herring releases clouds of milt(fish-sperm) simultaneously. Atlantic Herrings usually migrates to shore and coastal areas to spawn. The gulf of Maine in the United States are the major spawning grounds of Atlantic Herrings.
[edit] Life Stages
- Eggs - which are spawned and fertilized externally.
- Larvae - after 7-10 days the eggs will hatched in to a larvae, it is elongated and carries a yolk sac that serve as a food reserve. The larvae stage may take 3 - 11 months depending on the sea environment and temperature. Marine biologists determined that only 1% of all the total larvae will make it to the next stage.
- Juvenile - at this stage and adult-like characteristics is observed, scales are usually formed, bodies are no longer transparent and begins to deepen and flatten and they have silvery blue colors.
- Adult - this stage is reached when herrings are approximately 3 - 4 years old. Some herrings can live up to 12 years and can weigh up to 1.5 pounds.
[edit] Production
The US State of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts were able to produce 80,000 metric tons of Herring catch in 1997.
[edit] Delicacy
Pickled herring are a common and popular delicacy in Europe, Russia and Japan. In Sweden they ferment herring to make on what they called the Scandinavian Rotten Fish. Dried herrings are popularly eaten during breakfast in the Philippines.
[edit] Threats
The November 2007 Cosco Busan Oil Spill in the Pacific Ocean has caused historical and record lows of Herring fish that comes to breed in the San Francisco bay. After 3 years, the New York Times reported that big numbers are going back in the bay to spawn.
