The Life Cycle of North Sea Herring: A fishy tale of sea to smokehouse

In the expansive waters of the North Sea, a remarkable journey unfolds for the North Sea Herring. From the spawning grounds to the open ocean, these silvery fish embark on their travels, guided by the rhythms of nature and the call of instinct.

Autumn serves as the dominant spawning season for North Sea Herring. However, sub-populations can be found spawning during many other months. Currently, the three main populations of this fish include the Buchan/Shetland herring, spawning along the Scottish and Shetland coasts in August and September; the Dogger herring, found spawning in the Central North Sea and off the English coast from August to October; and the Downs herring, which spawn in the English Channel from November to January. While these populations might mix during the rest of the year, they part company and migrate to their designated spawning areas during their spawning season. The herring learned to spread out spawning to limit impacts on their populations caused by adverse seasonal conditions. This is one of the reasons why the herring is such an enduring species.

The North Sea Herring used by L Robson and Sons spawn off the east of Scotland and Shetland coasts in the late Summer and early Autumn. In times gone by, these herring were known as ‘silver darlings’ by the Scottish fisherman who followed the shoals for hundreds of miles from Shetland to Yarmouth.

In the beginning

As summer turns to Autumn in the North Sea, a restlessness stirs within the herring shoals and they begin to congregate in their chosen spawning grounds. Grounds nestled off the Scottish east coast or in the Shetland/Orkney area provide the ideal sea floor environment for the herring to release their eggs. Amidst the swaying seaweeds and rocky outcrops, millions of eggs attach themselves to small stones or coarse gravel, creating a vast carpet that can be several layers thick. If the eggs aren’t eaten by other marine life they hatch after about three weeks, depending on the sea temperatures.

After spawning, the adult fish return to the open North Sea, leaving their young to begin an adventure.

Maturation

From the moment of hatching, the larvae herring drift with the ocean currents. They finally reach the nursery areas of the North Sea and Skagerrak/Kattegat, where they will stay for the first part of their lives.

During daytime, shoals remain close to the sea floor or in deeper water. At dusk, they swim upwards towards the surface. They mature into sleek, silvery adults, forming vast shoals as they move in unison to feed on plankton and smaller fish, such as the sand eels and sprat that are found in these fertile waters.

Some herring mature and spawn at around two years of age, but the majority are three or four before they begin to spawn. At this time, guided by instinct, the herring return to the grounds where they hatched, and the cycle of life begins again.

The catch

Our herring are caught off the coast of Norway by leading supplier of fine fish, Pelagia. The Norwegian fleet fishes from May to June and in the late Autumn, targeting the mature and spawning stock.

Pelagia ships the finest herring over to Grimsby and then on to the Eyemouth cold store, which is where we collect it from as we need it.

At the present time, we use around 300 tonnes of North Sea Herring every year. That’s why it’s important to us that our supplier has a strong commitment to fishing practices that don’t damage the marine ecosystem. Pelagia has a strong focus on ocean conservation and using marine resources in a way that promotes sustainable development… and that’s one of the reasons we chose to work with them!

Why is this important to us?

North Sea Herring play a crucial role in maintaining balance and biodiversity in the ocean. They serve as both predator and prey, sustaining a large range of marine life, from seabirds and mackerel to seals and dolphins. Their continued presence is not only crucial for a healthy ocean ecosystem but also to protect the livelihoods of the many coastal communities that depend on them for industry.

The final part of this journey takes place between our smokehouse and your plate. Try our smoked herrings today by purchasing them in our shop (Free UK delivery).