see text Clupea is genus of planktivorous bony fish belonging to the family Clupeidae, commonly known as herrings.

Herrings are forage fish moving in vast schools, coming in spring to the shores of Europe and America, where they form important commercial fisheries.

Predators of herring include humans, seabirds, dolphins, porpoises, striped bass, seals, sea lions, whales, sharks, dog fish, tuna, cod, salmon, and halibut.

During daylight herring stay in the safety of deep water, feeding at the surface only at night when there is less chance of being seen by predators.

In Europe the fish has been called the "silver of the sea", and its trade has been so significant to many countries that it has been regarded as the most commercially important fishery in history.