Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is widely distributed in the Northwest and Northeast Atlantic. Within the Northeast Atlantic, they are distributed from the northern Bay of Biscay to Greenland, and east into the Barents Sea.

Stock distribution is uncertain for Atlantic herring in this area.  Many local populations with differing growth rates share similar habitats and may mix during certain times of the year. There has been little indication that the Bothnia stock mixes with the other stocks in the Baltic. In a recent benchmark assessment (ICES 2017)(ICES 2017), the Bay of Bothnia (SD 31) and the Bothnia Sea (SD 30) stocks were combined into one unit the Gulf of Bothnia (SD 30 and 31).