Herring (Clupea harengus) in subareas 1, 2, and 5, and in divisions 4.a and 14.a, Norwegian spring-spawning herring (the Northeast Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean)

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity. Based on the most recent estimate of fishing mortality (in 2008) ICES classifies the stock as being harvested sustainably.

SSB in 2009 is well above Bpa and is estimated as one of the highest in the time-series. The stock contains a number of

good year classes. In the last 10 years, four large year classes have been produced (1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004).

However, the available information indicates that year classes after 2004 have been of low abundance.