After 2 to 3 months the larvae develop into juveniles. During the summer of their first year, the juveniles form schools in shallow bays, inlets, and channels. At this stage herring are the ideal food for a host of predators including fish (such as perch, salmon, and dogfish), mammals (such as seals), and birds (such as gulls, cormorants, and diving ducks). It is estimated that only one herring out of 10,000 eggs reaches adulthood.
Photo: Western Fisheries Research Center
Date:
Monday, October 7, 2013