Canadian Marine Life Encyclopedia
Pacific Herring
Clupea pallasii pallasii
Also known as
sea herring, sild, hareng
Distribution
Throughout the North Pacific, ranging from Alaska down to Mexico
Ecosystem/Habitat
Pelagic to coastal in cold to temperate waters
Feeding Habits
Filter feeder
Conservation Status
Not listed
Taxonomy
Order Clupeiformes (herrings); Family Clupeidae (herrings, shads, sardines and menhadens)
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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google+Pacific herring are a small and widely abundant fish that are very important to both the ecology and culture of Canada’s Pacific coast. Many other species rely on them for food, including larger fish, seabirds as well as marine and terrestrial mammals. Pacific herring also have significant value to communities, including First Nations. Some First Nations have stories and songs about herring that have been passed down to subsequent generations, demonstrating the long-term connection of Indigenous Peoples to this fish.