Latin name

Clupea pallasi suworowi

Identification

The abdominal keel scales of the Chosa herring are developed only behind the base of the pelvic fins; in front of the fins, they are either weakly developed or absent. The vomer teeth are poorly developed. The head is larger than that of Clupea harengus harengus; it constitutes 21.2% of the body length. The eyes are larger, constituting 25.1% of the head length. There are 50-57 vertebrae.

Features of fish fins

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23.

These fish have relatively short anal fins that account for 10.4% of their body length.

Fish colouring

The back of the Chosa herring is bluish-green, while its sides and belly are silvery white.

Distribution

The chosa herring population is found in the southeastern Barents Sea and southern Kara Sea. As temperatures warm, these distribution centers may expand and merge.      

Habitat

This marine form lives in water with both oceanic and reduced salinity. They winter near rivers in brackish waters where they always encounter a favorable temperature. The rapid warming of shallow waters in the summer creates satisfactory feeding conditions for juvenile and adult fish.

Size

The Chosa herring grows to a length of 32 centimeters. It lives up to 11 years.

Behavior

Fish face difficult conditions here. The landfast ice along the icy shore destroys the algae belt, forcing them to lay their eggs on the ground. During the breeding period, especially cold years have many ice floes that destroy the developing eggs during tidal currents. However, in warm years, numerous generations appear, and the herring population expands.

Food and feeding habits

Juveniles primarily feed on crustaceans, as well as decapod larvae and mollusks. Adults primarily feed on large crustaceans and small fish. After spawning, the fish move away from the shore and disperse throughout the open sea, where they feed on crustaceans and small fish.

Reproduction

It spawns in the Chosha Bay and eastward from May to mid-July and in the Kara Bay from August to September. It reaches sexual maturity in its fourth year.

Fishing

Its economic importance is minimal. It is caught during spawning aggregations near the shore in the spring (April–June) and in the summer (July–September) when it approaches bays and pre-mouth areas to feed.

Relationship with a person

Harmless. It can be consumed fresh, dried, salted, smoked, canned, or frozen.