Australian Herring (Arripis georgianus) (aka tommy ruff) is distributed in coastal marine and estuarine waters between Shark Bay, Western Australia, and Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, and are considered to constitute a single biological stock.  Herring spawn around reefs off the lower west coast of Australia from late May to early June and the developing eggs and larvae are advected eastwards. The extent of their distribution relates to the relative strength of the Leeuwin Current which transports warm tropical water southward in the Indian Ocean and eastward along Australia’s southern coastline during autumn and winter.  Juveniles settle in inshore waters throughout this eastward distribution, some in close proximity to the spawning grounds, whereas others extend as far as Victoria. Juveniles prey upon small epibenthic crustaceans associated with shallow seagrass beds and as they mature switch their diet to include small fish (i.e. juvenile Australian Sardines and Blue Sprats), larger crustaceans and surface insects. Herring attain sexual maturity at two to three years of age and ~200 mm in length and typically return to southwestern Australia where they contribute to the spawning population

Source:  Assessment of the South Australian Marine Scalefish Fishery in 2018.  Report by PIRSA

Provenance

Typically found in sheltered seagrass environments, key producing regions include the Northern Spencer and Gulf St Vincent.

Sustainability

South Australia – Sustainable

Source:  FRDC

SEAsonality

Traditionally, this schooling species demonstrates year-round availability. The number of supplying regions peaks in March with December the lowest. Production can be variable due to a long migratory route between WA and SA.