Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus)

Biology and habitat

Species description 
The Atlantic herring belongs to the family of Clupeidae.

Geographical distribution and habitat
The Atlantic herring is one of the most abundant fish species in the world. It lives in the North-East Atlantic (from Norwegian waters in the North to the Bay of Biscay in the South) and in the North-West Atlantic (from Greenland to South Carolina in the USA).

Resource, exploitation and management

Stock and resource status/conservation measures
Minimum conservation sizes are set at 18 cm of total length in Skagerrak and Kattegat and 20 cm in other fishing areas.

Production methods and fishing gears
The main fishing gears used are gillnets and similar nets, pots and traps, seines and trawls.

Source: Information system on commercial designations

Catches

Evolution of world catches

Atlantic herring catches reached 1,4 million tonnes in 2023, i.e. 2% of the global catches. The majority of this is caught by Norway (35% of global catches in 2022) as well as the EU (31%) (EU fleet operating mainly in the North Atlantic) and Iceland, Faroe Islands, Russia, and the United Kingdom. During the last decade (2014-2023), Atlantic herring catches have decreased by 12% at global level in relation to the decrease of catches of EU fleets and Iceland (-30% each).

Source: FAO

Evolution of EU catches

In 2023, the EU catches of Atlantic herring reached circa 438.000 tonnes. Similarly to the global trend, the EU catches have decreased (-30% during the last decades). The decrease was mostly driven by decreased Danish catches (-39%) but also by the notable decreases of the Finnish (-47%), Swedish (-35%) and Dutch (-13%) catches. The latter is home of the largest EU freezer trawler company involved in pelagic fishing. In 2023, 71% of the EU landings was used for human consumption, while the rest was used for industrial use (i.e. fishmeal and fish oil).

Source: FAO

Aquaculture production

No aquaculture production of Atlantic herring has been developed, as it would not be competitive (low sale prices).

Processing

A significant processing activity for the Atlantic herring exists in the EU.

2 PRODCOM codes refer to herring:

•      10 20 24 55: smoked herrings,
•      10 20 25 20: preserved or prepared herrings.

Source: EUROSTAT/PRODCOM

Trade

Combined nomenclature

EU trade of herring products (tonnes –  2024)

Data include all species of herring

• Main extra-EU imports almost reached 169.000 tonnes in 2024, of which 83% were frozen. EU imports from Norway reached 111.556 tonnes in 2024, representing 66% of total EU imports of herring in volume terms. The imported volume of herring from the second largest supplier, the United Kingdom, totaled circa 30.000 tonnes in 2024. The top-four import markets in 2024 were Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark, representing 84% of total imports volume.

• Extra-EU exports: 

  Herring is one of the most exported fish by EU Member States. In 2024, volumes totaled over 201.000 tonnes. Herrings were mainly exported frozen (83%). The Netherlands was the largest EU exporter representing 71% of the EU-exports. In 2024, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ukraine were the main markets for EU exports, accounting for 76% of total volume.

Source: EUROSTAT/COMEXT

Supply balance

EU supply balance (2023) – Tonnes of live weight equivalent – Herring: 
Data concern Atlantic herring and other species of herring

Source: FAO/ EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance is provided for the year 2023 (trade data for 2023 were taken into account). Detailed trade data provided in the slides 4 and 5 concern the year 2024.
The conversion factors were used to convert net weight of imports and exports of fishery and aquaculture products into live weight equivalents.
Production figure used in this supply chain is different from the production figure provided in the slide on catches (i.e. slide 2) as only production for human consumption has been considered.

Prices along the supply chain (EUR/kg)

First-sale (fresh)
First-sale prices are provided for one of the main EU producers (Denmark).

(*) From January to September 2025

Wholesale (fresh)
Wholesale prices are reported for Mercamadrid (Madrid, Spain).

(*) From January to October 2025

Extra-EU import (frozen fillets)
EU imports from third countries concern mainly frozen herring, in fillets. Data concern Atlantic herring and other species of herring

(*) From January to to September 2025

Extra-EU export (frozen whole)
The Netherlands is by far the main EU exporter of herrings to third countries. The Dutch exports are mainly composed of frozen whole herrings. Data concern Atlantic herring and other species of herring.

(*) From January to September 2025

Marketing

National lists of commercial designations

Information system on commercial designations and scientific names in all EU languages

Applicable marketing standard

• There are two names protected under Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG) for processed herring:
  • PGI “Glückstädter Matjes” in Germany;
  • TSG “Hollandse maatjesharing / Hollandse Nieuwe / Holländischer Matjes” in the Netherlands.

Consumption

Herring (all species included) is the 8th most consumed species in the EU (source: The EU Fish Market – 2025 edition, EUMOFA)

Apparent consumption per capita of herring (all species) in 2023: 0,98 kg live weight equivalent (source: Supply balance – 2023, EUMOFA)

Nutritional value (Atlantic herring, nutrition values per serving 100g)