Why Supporting Herring Matters

Healthy herring populations are one of the strongest indicators of a thriving ocean. They support salmon recovery, feed endangered whales, and sustain cultural traditions and local economies. But habitat loss, climate change, and human pressures are putting this keystone species at risk. Supporting herring is important for several interconnected reasons:

1. Foundation of the Food Web

As a critical forage fish, herring sustain countless species, from salmon and seabirds to seals and even orcas. When herring populations decline, the impact ripples upward through the entire food web. PSF’s work makes it clear that adult Chinook and Coho salmon in the Strait of Georgia rely heavily on herring as a primary food source, meaning the health of these small fish directly influences the survival of some of our coast’s most iconic species.

2. Salmon Survival Link:

Since many conservation efforts focus on salmon, herring–salmon interactions matter. Abundant herring help salmon survival by providing food and reducing predation. Supporting herring is, therefore, indirectly supporting salmon. Research in BC is focusing on filling knowledge gaps about how juvenile salmon feed on juvenile herring, tracking changes in resident herring populations, and assessing changes in spawning habitat.

3. Habitat & Ecosystem Health

Herring spawning relies on healthy near-shore vegetation, such as eelgrass and kelp, and clean, undisturbed habitat. Loss of spawning habitat signals broader ecosystem stress. Shoreline hardening, warming waters, contaminants, and other factors contribute to the decline in the herring population.

Courtesy of the Pacific Salmon Foundation

4. Cultural & Community Value

Herring spawning events hold cultural significance for many Indigenous communities in BC. Traditionally, herring was used as a source of nutrition, identity and ecological knowledge within coastal communities. It is essential to partner with Indigenous communities to recover herring populations.

Courtesy of the Pacific Salmon Foundation

5. Indicator of Change:

Because herring respond quickly to habitat, contamination, and temperature stress, they are a good indicator species for nearshore ecosystem health. Supporting herring research helps understand broader coastal change.

As a marine-based tourism company, we witness firsthand how essential herring are to the wildlife our guests cherish. From humpbacks feeding to orcas hunting salmon, the presence of herring shapes almost every marine encounter. Protecting herring means protecting the entire ecosystem and the future of responsible wildlife tourism.