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 is some evidence that western Baltic spring-spawning herring (Division 3a and subdivisions 22–24) and central Baltic herring ​(subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding Gulf of Riga herring) are mixing in subdivisions 24–26. Additionally, it is known that Gulf of Riga Atlantic herring are caught in the Central Baltic Sea Area, and vice versa (ICES 2016). This profile covers the Central Baltic Sea herring Stock.