By Obiabin Onukwugha
Herring are forage fish, mostly belonging to the family of Clupeidae. The herring is a pelagic fish, and may be found anywhere between 2 and 400m below the surface of the sea.
Herring spawn between December and midsummer, depending upon latitude and temperature.
Herring often move in large schools around fishing banks and near the coast, particularly in shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans, including the Baltic Sea, as well as off the west coast of South America.
These oily fish also have a long history as an important food fish, and are often salted, smoked, or pickled.
Scientists say during reproduction, eggs are laid on the sea bed, rock, stones, gravel, sand or beds of algae. Females may deposit from 20,000 to 40,000 eggs, according to age and size, averaging about 30,000.
If the egg layers are too thick they suffer from oxygen depletion and often die, entangled in a maze of mucus. As such,, they need substantial water microturbulence, generally provided by wave action or coastal currents.
However, survival is highest in crevices and behind solid structures, because predators feast on openly exposed eggs. Incubation time is about 40 days at 3 °C (37 °F), 15 days at 7 °C (45 °F), or 11 days at 10 °C (50 °F). Eggs die at temperatures above 19 °C (66 °F).
Researchers note that the average life span for herring fish is about 8 years in Southeast Alaska and up to 16 years in the Bering Sea.
Herring fish play a pivotal role in regulating the food web structure. They also help support the conservation of the endangered Atlantic salmon, by being prey to predators and thus reducing the predation on salmon.
Ot is said that herring played an important role in the history of marine fisheries in Europe early in the 20th century as their study was fundamental to the development of fisheries science.
Yorubas call it “Shawa”, Hausa call it “kifi”, and Igbos call it “azu asa”
How the Herring Became King of the Sea
Traditional folktale has it that years and years ago, the fish kingdom met to choose themselves a king, for they had no deemster to tell them what was right. Likely enough their meeting place was off the dhoulder, south of the Calf.
The fishes all came looking their best – there was Captain Jiarg, the Red Gumet, in his fine crimson coat; Grey Horse, the Shark, big and cruel; the Bollan in his brightest colours; Dirty Peggy, the Cuttle-fish, putting her nicest face on herself; Athag, the Haddock, trying to rub out the black spots the devil burnt on him, and all the rest. Each one thought he might be chosen.
It was said that the Fishes had a strong notion to make Brac Gorm, the Mackerel, king. Because Mackerel knew that, he went and put beautiful lines and stripes on himself; pink and green and gold, and all the colours of the sea and sky. Then he was thinking diamonds of himself. But when he came he looked that grand that they didn’t know him. So the fishes said he was artificial and therefore they will have nothing to do with him.
With all these, the fishes then agreed to make Skeddan, the Herring, who looked simple, King of the Sea.
When it was all over, up came the Fluke, too late to give his vote, and they all called out: You’ve missed the tide, my beauty! It seems that he had been so busy making himself up, touching himself up red in places, that he forgot how time went.
When he found that the herring had been chosen, he twisted up his mouth on one side, and said “what am I going to be then?”
Scarrag the Skate said “Take that,” and with his tail, gave Fluke a slap on his mouth that knocked his mouth crooked on him. And so it has been ever since.
Fishermen say maybe, it’s because the Herring is King of the Sea that is why he has so much honour among men.
Even the deemsters, when they take their oath, say: “I will execute justice as indifferently as the herring’s backbone doth lie in the midst of the fish.”
And the Manx people will not burn the herring’s bones in the fire, in case the herring should feel it.
It is to be remembered, too, that the best herring in the world are caught off the shoulder, where the fish held their big meeting, and that is because it is not very far from Manannan’s enchanted island.