Sprat

Last updated March 26, 2024

Sprat is the common name applied to a group of forage fish belonging to the genus Sprattus in the family Clupeidae. The term also is applied to a number of other small sprat-like forage fish ( Clupeoides , Clupeonella , Corica , Ehirava , Hyperlophus , Microthrissa , Nannothrissa , Platanichthys , Ramnogaster , Rhinosardinia , and Stolothrissa ). Like most forage fishes, sprats are highly active, small, oily fish. They travel in large schools with other fish and swim continuously throughout the day.^[1]

They are recognized for their nutritional value, as they contain high levels of polyunsaturated fats, considered beneficial to the human diet. They are eaten in many places around the world.^[2] Sprats are sometimes passed off as other fish; products sold as having been prepared from anchovies (since the 19th century) and others sold as sardines sometimes are prepared from sprats, as the authentic ones once were less accessible. They are known for their smooth flavour and are easy to mistake for baby sardines.

Species

True sprats

True sprats belong to the genus Sprattus in the family Clupeidae. The five species are:

Sprattus species
Common name	Scientific name	Maximum length	Common length	Maximum weight	Maximum age	Trophic level	Fish Base	FAO	ITIS	IUCN status
New Zealand blueback sprat	Sprattus antipodum(Hector 1872)	12.0 cm	9.0 cm			3.0	^[3]		^[4]	Least concern^[5]
Falkland sprat	Sprattus fuegensis(Blomefield, 1842)	18.0 cm	15.0 cm			3.4	^[6]		^[7]	Least concern^[8]
New Zealand sprat	Sprattus muelleri(Klunzinger, 1879)	13.0 cm	10.0 cm			3.0	^[9]		^[10]	Least concern^[11]
Australian sprat	Sprattus novaehollandiae(Valenciennes, 1847)	14.0 cm				3.0	^[12]		^[13]	Least concern^[14]
European sprat*	Sprattus sprattus(Linnaeus, 1758)	16.0 cm	12.0 cm		6 years	3.0	^[15]	^[16]	^[17]	Least concern^[18]

* Type species

Other sprats

The term also is commonly applied to a number of other small sprat-like forage fish that share characteristics of the true sprat. Apart from the true sprats, FishBase lists another 48 species whose common names ends with "sprat". Some examples are:

Sprat-like species
Common name	Scientific name	Maximum length	Common length	Maximum weight	Maximum age	Trophic level	Fish Base	FAO	ITIS	IUCN status
Black Sea sprat	Clupeonella cultriventris(Nordmann, 1840)	14.5 cm	10 cm		5 years	3.0	^[19]	^[20]	^[21]	Least concern^[22]

Characteristics

The average length of time from fertilization to hatching is about 15 days, with environmental factors playing a major role in the size and overall success of the sprat.^[23] The development of young larval sprat and reproductive success of the sprat have been largely influenced by environmental factors. Some of these factors affecting the sprat can be seen in the Baltic Sea, where specific gravity, water temperature, depth, and other such factors play a role in their success.

Over the last two decades, the number of sprat has fluctuated, due primarily to availability of zooplankton, a common food source, and also from overall changes in Clupeidae total abundance.^[24] Although the overall survival rates of the sprat decreased in the late 1980s and early 1990s, an increase has occurred in the last two decades.^[24] Recent studies suggesting a progression in the reproductive success of the sprat acknowledge that a significant increase in spawning stock biomass occurred.^[25] One of the main concerns for reproductive success for the sprat include exceedingly cold winters, as cold temperatures, especially in the Baltic Sea, have been known to affect the development of sprat eggs and larvae.^[23]

The metabolic rate of the sprat is highly influenced by environmental factors such as water temperature.^[1] Several related fish, such as the Atlantic herring (C. harengus), have much lower metabolic rates than that of the sprat. Some of the difference may be due to size differences among the related species,^[1] but the most important reason for high levels of metabolism for the sprat is their exceedingly high level of activity throughout the day.^[1]

Distribution

Fish of the different species of sprat are found in various parts of the world including New Zealand, Australia, and parts of Europe. By far, the most highly studied location where sprat, most commonly Sprattus sprattus, reside is the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. The Baltic Sea provides the sprat with a highly diverse environment, with spatial and temporal potential allowing for successful reproduction.^[25]

One of the most well-known locations in the Baltic Sea where they forage for their food is the Bornholm Basin, in the southern portion of the Baltic Sea.^[24] Although the Baltic Sea has undergone several ecological changes during the last two decades, the sprat has dramatically increased in population.^[26] One of the environmental changes that has occurred in the Baltic Sea since the 1980s includes a decrease in water salinity, due to a lack of inflow from the North Sea that contains high saline and oxygen content.^[26]

Ecology

In the Baltic Sea, cod, herring, and sprat are considered the most important species.^[25] Cod is the top predator, while the herring and sprat primarily are recognized as prey.^[27] This has been proven by many studies that analyze the stomach contents of such fish, often finding contents that immediately signify predation among the species.^[25] Although cod primarily feed on adult sprat, sprat tend to feed on cod before the cod have been fully developed. The sprat tends to prey on the cod eggs and larvae.^[23] Furthermore, sprat and herring are considered highly competitive for the same resources that are available to them. This is most present in the vertical migration of the two species in the Baltic Sea, where they compete for the limited zooplankton that is available and necessary for their survival.^[24]

Sprats are highly selective in their diet and are strict zooplanktivores that do not change their diet as their size increases, like some herring, but include only zooplankton in their diet.^[24] They eat various species of zooplankton in accordance to changes in the environment, as temperature and other such factors affect the availability of their food.

During autumn, sprats tend to have a diet high in Temora longicornis and Bosmina maritime. During the winter, their diet includes Pesudocalanus elongates.^[24]Pseudocalanus is genus of the order Calanoida and subclass Copepoda that is important to the predation and diet of fish in the Baltic Sea.^[28]

In both autumn and winter, a tendency exists for sprats to avoid eating Acartia spp., because they tend to be very small in size and have a high escape response to predators such as the herring and sprat. Although Acartia spp. may be present in large numbers, they also tend to dwell more toward the surface of the water, whereas the sprats, especially during the day, tend to dwell in deeper waters.^[24]

Fisheries

Global commercial capture of sprats in million tonnes 1950–2010^[29]
The total capture of sprats in 2010 reported by the FAO was 667,000 tonnes.^[29]

As food

In Northern Europe, European sprats are commonly smoked and preserved in oil, which retains a strong, smoky flavor.

Sprat, if smoked, is considered to be one of the foods highest in purine content.^[30] People who suffer from gout or high uric acid in the blood should avoid eating such foods.

Most importantly, sprats contain long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). They are present in amounts comparable to Atlantic salmon, and up to seven times higher in EPA and DHA than common fresh fillets of gilt-head bream. The sprats contain about 1.43 g/100 g of these polyunsaturated fatty acids that have been found to help prevent mental, neural, and cardiovascular diseases.^[31]

Sprattus sprattus, the European sprat
Creel with sprat, National Fishery Museum, Belgium
Oven for smoking sprat, National Fishery Museum, Belgium

Related Research Articles

Cod is the common name for the demersal fish genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae. Cod is also used as part of the common name for a number of other fish species, and one species that belongs to genus Gadus is commonly not called cod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clupeidae</span> Family of fishes

Clupeidae is a family of clupeiform ray-finned fishes, comprising, for instance, the herrings and sprats. Many members of the family have a body protected with shiny cycloid scales, a single dorsal fin, and a fusiform body for quick, evasive swimming and pursuit of prey composed of small planktonic animals. Due to their small size and position in the lower trophic level of many marine food webs, the levels of methylmercury they bioaccumulate are very low, reducing the risk of mercury poisoning when consumed.

Herring are forage fish, mostly belonging to the family of Clupeidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic herring</span> Species of fish

Atlantic herring is a herring in the family Clupeidae. It is one of the most abundant fish species in the world. Atlantic herrings can be found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, congregating in large schools. They can grow up to 45 centimetres (18 in) in length and weigh up to 1.1 kilograms (2.4 lb). They feed on copepods, krill and small fish, while their natural predators are seals, whales, cod and other larger fish.

Sardine and pilchard are common names for various species of small, oily forage fish in the herring family Clupeidae. The term 'sardine' was first used in English during the early 15th century; a somewhat dubious folk etymology says it comes from the Italian island of Sardinia, around which sardines were once supposedly abundant.

The European sprat, also known as bristling, brisling, garvie, garvock, Russian sardine, russlet, skipper or whitebait, is a species of small marine fish in the herring family Clupeidae. Found in European, West Asian and North African waters, it has silver grey scales and white-grey flesh. Specific seas in which the species occurs include the Irish Sea, Black Sea, Baltic Sea and Sea of the Hebrides. The fish is the subject of fisheries, particularly in Scandinavia, and is made into fish meal, as well as being used for human consumption. When used for food it can be canned, salted, breaded, fried, boiled, grilled, baked, deep fried, marinated, broiled, and smoked.

The Black Sea sprat or Pontic sprat, Clupeonella cultriventris, is a small fish of the herring family, Clupeidae. It is found in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov and rivers of its basins: Danube, Dnister, Dnipro (Ukraine), Southern Bug, Don, Kuban. It has white-grey flesh and silver-grey scales. A typical size is 10 cm. The life span is up to 5 years. The peak of its spawning is in April and it can be found in enormous shoals in sea-shores, filled all-round coastal shallows, moving quickly back into the sea at a depth of 6–30 metres. Used for food; it has around 12% fat in flesh.

The Australian sprat is a sprat fish whose habitat ranges in the waters surrounding Australia including Tasmania. It is a pelagic fish which is found in anti-tropical, temperate water. It is a part of the Clupeidae family. Other members of the Cluepeidae family also include herring, menhaden, sardines as well as shads. It is currently a relative unknown species of Sprat compared to the other members of the family. In total, there are five different types of True Sprats. What makes Australian Sprats different from the rest is their location and appearance. Sprattus Novaehollandiae have a dark blue back and a protruding lower jaw. They are found in the Southern regions of Australian such as lower Victoria and Tasmania were there are colder climates. On average, Australian Sprat grown up to 14 cm and live in the range of 0–50 meters deep in the ocean. They will lay between 10,000 and 40,000 eggs per year and live for approximately 5–7 years. Other names for the Australian Sprat include Clupea Bassensis and Meletta Novaehollandiae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand blueback sprat</span> Species of fish

The New Zealand blueback sprat is a herring-like, forage fish of the family Clupeidae found in the waters around New Zealand, between latitudes 37° S and 48° S, and longitude 166° E and 180° E, to depths of up to 50 m. It belongs to the genus Sprattus, a small oily fish usually known by their common name, sprats. Its length is up to 12 cm.

Sprattus is a genus of small oily fish of the family Clupeidae. They are more usually known by their common name, sprats. There are five species in the genus.

The New Zealand sprat is a herring-like, marine fish in the family Clupeidae found in the subtropical southwest Pacific Ocean endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to a genus Sprattus of small oily fish, usually known by their common name, sprats.

The Fueguian sprat or Falkland sprat is a herring-like, marine fish in the family Clupeidae found in the subtropical southwest Atlantic Ocean from 40° S to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. Its depth range is from the surface to 10 m, and its length is up to 18 cm.

Abrau sprat, Clupeonella abrau, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Clupeidae. It is found landlocked in Russia in a single locality, Lake Abrau, located at 70 m above sea level near the Black Sea coast close to Novorossiysk. The lake is small and has been stocked by several alien species, whence the Abrau sprat is considered critically endangered.

Clupeonella is a genus of fish in the family Clupeidae. They are widespread in the fresh and brackish waters of the Caspian Sea and Black drainages.

The M74 syndrome is a reproduction disorder of salmon feeding in the Baltic Sea. M74 manifests as offspring mortality during the yolk-sac fry phase. Before dying, the yolk-sac fry display typical symptoms. Thiamine deficiency in eggs is the immediate cause of M74 mortality. The deficiency can be prevented by thiamine treatments. For the first time Bulgarian research team opines that with M74 syndrome are affected also male gametes and worsened parameters of the spermiogram. The use of Bulgarian semen protective media 49282, 49283 and 49397 for trout sperm fertility improving was proposed.

Caspian tyulka, Clupeonella caspia, is a species of fish in the family Clupeidae. It is found in the Caspian Sea, also in the lower reaches of the rivers Volga, Ural, and possibly Terek. This is a brackishwater pelagic-neritic fish, up to 12 cm maximum length.

The freshwater tyulka is a species of fish in the herring family Clupeidae. It is found in the Caspian Sea watersheds, including the lower reaches of the rivers Volga and Ural. It was introduced to the Don River basin and is also invasive upstream in the Volga drainage. It is a small freshwater pelagic fish, up to 10 cm maximal length, inhabiting large lakes and reservoirs, and breeding in open water. Earlier it was considered to be a part of the species Clupeonella cultriventris.

Clupea is genus of planktivorous bony fish belonging to the family Clupeidae, commonly known as herrings. They are found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Two main species of Clupea are currently recognized: the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring, which have each been divided into subspecies. Herrings are forage fish moving in vast schools, coming in spring to the shores of Europe and America, where they form important commercial fisheries.

Clupeonella muhlisi is a species of clupeid fish endemic to Lake Uluabat in Turkey, linked to the Sea of Marmara.

Temora longicornis is a species of copepod in the family Temoridae. It is found in marine environments on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

References

1 2 3 4 Meskendahl, L., J.-P. Herrmann, and A. Temming. "Effects of Temperature and Body Mass on Metabolic Rates of Sprat, Sprattus Sprattus L." Marine Biology 157.9 (2010): 1917–1927. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 November 2011. p. 1925
↑ Sprats Fried in Batter
↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Sprattus antipodum" in FishBase . April 2012 version.
↑ "Sprattus antipodum". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 1 April 2012.
↑ Gaughan, D.; Munroe, T.A.; Hata, H.; Mohd Arshaad, W. (2017). "Sprattus antipodum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T98839225A98886993. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T98839225A98886993.en . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Sprattus fuegensis" in FishBase . April 2012 version.
↑ "Sprattus fuegensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 1 April 2012.
↑ Buratti, C.; Díaz de Astarloa, J.; Hüne, M.; Irigoyen, A.; Landaeta, M.; Riestra, C.; Vieira, J.P.; Di Dario, F. (2020). "Sprattus fuegensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T195021A159405008. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T195021A159405008.en . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Sprattus muelleri" in FishBase . April 2012 version.
↑ "Sprattus muelleri". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 1 April 2012.
↑ Gaughan, D.; Munroe, T.A.; Hata, H.; Mohd Arshaad, W. (2017). "Sprattus muelleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T98839582A98887018. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T98839582A98887018.en . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Sprattus novaehollandiae" in FishBase . April 2012 version.
↑ "Sprattus novaehollandiae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 1 April 2012.
↑ Gaughan, D.; Munroe, T.A.; Mohd Arshaad, W. (2017). "Sprattus novaehollandiae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T98840585A98887024. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T98840585A98887024.en . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Sprattus sprattus" in FishBase . April 2012 version.
↑ Sprattus sprattus (Linnaeus, 1758) FAO, Species Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 2012.
↑ "Sprattus sprattus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 1 April 2012.
↑ Nedreaas, K.; Florin, A.-B.; Cook, R.; Fernandes, P. (2019) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. "Sprattus sprattus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T198583A143833310. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T198583A143833310.en . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Clupeonella cultriventris" in FishBase . April 2012 version.
↑ Clupeonella cultriventris (Nordmann, 1840) FAO, Species Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 2012.
↑ "Clupeonella cultriventris". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
↑ Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008). "Clupeonella cultriventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T4987A11107179. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T4987A11107179.en . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
1 2 3 Nissling, Anders. "Effects of Temperature on Egg And Larval Survival of Cod (Gadus Morhua) And Sprat (Sprattus Sprattus) In The Baltic Sea – Implications For Stock Development." Hydrobiologia 514.1-3 (2004): 115-123. Academic Search Premier. Web. 24 November 2011. p. 121 ^[permanent dead link ]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Casini, Michele, Cardinale, Massimiliano, and Arrheni, Fredrik. "Feeding preferences of herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in the southern Baltic Sea". ICES Journal of Marine Science, 61 (2004): 1267-1277. Science Direct. Web. 22 November 2011. p. 1268.
1 2 3 4 Friedrich W. Köster, et al. "Developing Baltic Cod Recruitment Models. I. Resolving Spatial And Temporal Dynamics of Spawning Stock And Recruitment For Cod, Herring, And Sprat." Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences 58.8 (2001): 1516. Academic Search Premier. Web. 21 November 2011. p. 1516. ^[permanent dead link ]
1 2 Casini, Michele, Massimiliano Cardinale, and Joakim Hjelm. "Inter-Annual Variation in Herring, Clupea Harengus, And Sprat, Sprattus Sprattus, Condition in the Central Baltic Sea: What Gives The Tune?." Oikos 112.3 (2006): 638-650. Academic Search Premier. Web. 22 November 2011. p. 638.
↑ Maris Plikshs, et al. "Developing Baltic Cod Recruitment Models. I. Resolving Spatial And Temporal Dynamics of Spawning Stock And Recruitment For Cod, Herring, And Sprat." Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences 58.8 (2001): 1516. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Nov. 2011, p.1517 ^[dead link ]
↑ Renz, Jasmin, Peters, Janna, Hirch, Hans-Jürgen. "Life cycle of Pseudocalanus acuspes Giesbrecht (Copepoda,Calanoida) in the Central Baltic Sea: II. Reproduction, growth and secondary production." Marine Biology, 151 (2007):515-527. Springer Link. Web. 4 December 2011. p. 515
1 2 Based on data sourced from the relevant FAO Species Fact Sheets
↑ Various food types and their purine content http://www.acumedico.com/purine.htm
↑ Galina S. Kalachova, et al. "Content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids in three canned fish species." International Journal of Food Sciences & Nutrition 60.3 (2009): 224-230. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 26 October 2011. p.224.