European Sprat

Sprat is a small species belonging to the herring family. Large schools of ten-centimeter long sprat swim in the upper water column in search of plankton. Sprat can grow to 18 centimeters and 6 years old. It is mostly caught by the industrial fisheries for producing fish-meal. Other fish and birds eat lots of sprat. Sprat is sometimes smoked for human consumption, sold in the Netherlands as 'kielersprot'. This fish is one of the few fish species in the North Sea that has a healthy population. Since 1990, a strong to very strong year class has been born just about every year.

Lower jaw slightly projecting, gill cover without bony radiating striae, teeth rarely present on vomer; belly with a strong keel of scutes; pelvic finrays i 6 (rarely i 7), insertion of fin under or before the dorsal fin origin, last two anal finrays not enlarged. No dark spots on flanks.

Northeast Atlantic (from North Sea and Baltic south to Morocco; also Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black Sea).

To 16 cm, usually to 12 cm standard length.

Marine pelagic andusually inhoreschooling fishes,sometimes entering estuaries (specially the juveniles ) and tolerating salinities as low as 40 strong migrations between winter feeding and summer spawning grounds.Feeds on planktonic crustaceans. Some spawing almost throughout the year, near to the coast or up to 100 km out to sea, mainly in spring and summer, the young drifting inshore. Move to the surface at night.

Of importance in North Sea, Baltic and off Norwegian coasts, with a total of 327 420 t in 1983; more than two thirds of this was fished by Denmark and Norway. Mediterranean and Black Sea catches in 1983 were 43 193 t, mostly by Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Caught in trawls or driftnets, or driven up Norwegian fjords by nets. Penned until needed by the canning factories (sold as "brislings"); juveniles sold as "white bait"(often mixed with juvenile herrings).The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 684 164 t. The countries with the largest catches were Danmark (282 299 t) and Sweden (112 452 t).

Lower jaw slightly projecting, gill cover without any bony radiating striae, teeth rarely present on vomer; belly with a strong keel of scutes; last two anal fin rays not enlarged. No dark spots on flanks. Pterotic bulla absent.

Some spawn almost year round but mainly in spring and summer, near to the coast or up to 100 km out to sea, the young drifting inshore. Individual period of spawning takes about two months (Ref. 92054).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 12 - 23

Sometimes entering estuaries (especially the juveniles) and tolerating salinities as low as 4 o/oo; strong migrations between winter feeding and summer spawning grounds. Move to the surface at night.

Usually inshore schooling, sometimes entering estuaries (especially the juveniles) and tolerating salinities as low as 4 ppt. Shows strong migrations between winter feeding and summer spawning grounds. Moves to the surface at night. Feeds on planktonic crustaceans (Ref. 9900). Spawns at depths of 10-20 m producing 6,000-14,000 pelagic eggs (Ref. 35388). Some spawn almost throughout the year, mainly in spring and summer, near the coast or up to 100 km out to sea, the young drifting inshore. Sold as 'brislings' to canneries. Sprat are used in the production of fish meal and as mink food, less for human consumption (Ref. 9900). Utilized fresh, smoked, canned and frozen; can be pan-fried and broiled (Ref. 9988).

fisheries: highly commercial; bait: usually; price category: low; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species