Pacific Herring

Pacific herring are found in coastal waters from Alaska to Baja California. These small schooling fish typically reach nine inches in length. They are dark blue along their backs with silver bellies. This contrasting coloration and herring’s tendency to form large schools offer the fish protection against predators. Juveniles spend several months in bay habitats before they swim out to open ocean waters. Pacific herring live 8 to 19 years, with longer life spans in the north. They feed on a variety of microscopic planktonic larvae throughout their lives. Pacific herring are particularly vulnerable to predation and are an important food source for birds, fish, invertebrates and marine mammals.

Overall availability

Pacific herring and their roe (eggs) are fished in all three West Coast states. In California, the San Francisco-based herring fishery focuses on the harvest of herring roe on kelp and, secondarily, on adult herring there and in other areas of Northern California for roe, fresh fish and bait markets. Peak commercial activity occurs in winter months. Oregon and Washington have fisheries only for adult herring, which are sold as fresh fish, roe and bait in Oregon, but primarily as bait in Washington. It is not commonly available to consumers in those two states. 

Management

Herring is caught using set gillnet and purse seine gear, and roe is harvested by hand. The Pacific herring fishery is individually managed by each state's Departments of Fish and Wildlife (CA, OR, WA).