Herring in the northern Irish Sea is overfished and subject to overfishing. Some but not all appropriate relevant management measures and in place, enforced but are only partially effective. There is no precautionary or shared management plan in place for this stock, although there are aspirations to develop one. This fishery is managed by Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits. Herring are caught by mid-water (pelagic) trawls in the northern Irish Sea. These trawlers do not make contact with the seabed, and tend have very little bycatch of other species.Rating last updated June 2025.

Herring in the Central Baltic Sea are subject to overfishing but are not currently being overfished. Some but not all appropriate management measures and in place, enforced but are only partially effective. The primary concern in this fishery is that catch limits have consistently been set above scientific recommendations in recent years. Herring are mainly caught by pelagic trawls in the Central Baltic Sea. These trawlers do not make contact with the seabed, and tend have very little bycatch of other species.Rating last updated November 2024.

The North Sea Autumn Spawning herring population is just above target levels, however there is concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place in the North Sea and English Channel. Historically, catches have been higher than scientific recommendations, although they have recently started to decrease. Some are caught by midwater trawl and there is bycatch of depleted Western Baltic Herring, impacting their ability to recover effectively. Herring are important prey for many species, so removing them by fishing may have wider ecosystem impacts.Rating last updated June 2025

The North Sea Autumn Spawning herring population is just above target levels, however there is concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place in the North Sea and English Channel. Historically, catches have been higher than scientific recommendations, although they have recently started to decrease. Purse seine fisheries in this area are unlikely to have any habitat impacts. Some are caught by purse seines and there is bycatch of depleted Western Baltic Herring, impacting their ability to recover effectively.Rating last updated June 2025

The North Sea Autumn Spawning herring population is just above target levels, however there is concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place in the North Sea and English Channel. Historically, catches have been higher than scientific recommendations, although they have recently started to decrease. Drift net herring fisheries are well targeted and have little bycatch.Rating last updated June 2025.

The North Sea Autumn Spawning herring population is just above target levels, however there is concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place for North Sea and English Channel herring. Historically, catches have been higher than scientific recommendations, although they have recently started to decrease. Most North Sea herring is caught by midwater trawling or purse seine. There may be a bycatch of the depleted Western Baltic herring. Herring are important prey for many species, so removing them by fishing may have wider ecosystem impacts. Certified fisheries are taking steps to improve management and reduce impacts.Rating last updated July 2025.

This rating is currently under review.

There is no concern for the biomass of autumn spawning Atlantic herring in the West of Scotland, and no concern for fishing pressure. Management measures have not been in place long enough to understand their effectiveness. Although catch limits have historically exceeded advice, stock biomass is reported to have recently increased in the stock assessment for this area. Autumn spawning herring in the West of Scotland are caught by pelagic trawls. This fishery is well targeted, with little bycatch and no habitat impacts.Rating last updated July 2022.

There is no concern for the biomass of autumn spawning Atlantic herring in the Northwest and West of Ireland, and no concern for fishing pressure. Management measures have not been in place long enough to understand their effectiveness. Although catch limits have historically exceeded advice, stock biomass is reported to have recently increased in the stock assessment for this area. Herring in the Northwest and West of Ireland are caught by pelagic trawls. This fishery is well targeted, with little bycatch and no habitat impacts.Rating last updated July 2022.

Updated: June 2020.

The stock is in an overfished state and subject to overfishing. The spawning stock biomass has decreased due to a combination of factors including, rising fishing pressure. The stock is covered by the Baltic Sea Multiannual Plan, and there are agreed quotas between the EU and Russia. There is a slight mismatch between stock area and quota area, but in general, Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and landings have been in line with advice. Discarding is negligible.

This is a well targeted fishery and Baltic Sea herring are predominantly taken alongside sprat in pelagic trawls, which have few, if any, habitat impacts as they do not make contact with the seabed. Purse seiners, gillnetters and trapnet fisheries also participate in the herring fishery but represent marginal volumes in comparison. Sprat and herring are important prey species for cod, and therefore reducing sprat and herring fishing pressure in the areas where Baltic cod are most common could reduce pressure on the cod stock. Central Baltic static net herring fisheries are contributing to population declines of the Baltic harbour porpoise population.