European Sprat

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).