Clupea pallasii

Pacific herrings have a compressed body, blue-green to olive back, silvery belly, one short dorsal fin in the middle of the back, no spines in the fins, a deeply forked tail, no adipose fin (tiny fin found between the dorsal and tail fin), no black spots on the sides, no striations on the gill covers, and weak belly scutes do not have a ridge down the center. The pelvic fin is directly under the dorsal fin. Maximum length is about 1.5 feet (46 cm).

Range encompasses coastal areas of the North Pacific Ocean from northern Baja California to the Beaufort Sea, and south in the western Pacific to Japan and Korea; also Arctic coast of Eurasia from the Chukchi Sea to the White Sea.

Pacific herrings live in coastal waters and often occur offshore.

Adults move toward shore and enter bays and estuaries prior to spawning. In California, the spawning season extends from November to June (mainly winter). In Alaska, spawning occurs March-June, although the season may be shorter in a particular location. Eggs are sticky and adhere to eelgrass, kelp, and other objects. When these fishes spawn in large groups, the water often appears milky over the entire spawning area due to the presence of abundant milt. Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks, depending on the temperature. Juveniles congregate in bays, inlets, and channels in summer. In fall, they move to deeper water and remain there until mature about 2-3 years later.