Sprat is the name given to different types of fish that belong to the Herring family. They are small schooling individuals. Accordingly, this term is used to refer to sprats, sprat and other representatives of the family in question. It is noteworthy that they are widespread in water bodies around the world and are often used to prepare a wide variety of dishes.
Description of the fish
This term refers to a wide variety of small-sized fish. Most often it is used to refer to sprat, but in reality there are much more varieties.There is an opinion that this word is associated with the keel of a ship. The fish is similar to it in visual characteristics - first of all, its elongated abdomen.
It is noteworthy that sprat is a source of food for many inhabitants of water bodies. At the same time, it itself absorbs plankton. On average, the lifespan of small fish is 3-4 years. At the same time, you can include them in the diet in the second year of life.
Sprat belongs to the Herring family. This includes two genera - sprats and sprat. The sprat is characterized by an elongated body with a wide back and flattened sides. In this case, the abdomen is rounded and supplemented with obvious keel scales. The fish also has an elongated head, small eyes and a small mouth. The dorsal and caudal fins are dark in color, while the rest are colorless.
A characteristic feature of individuals is their small size and silvery scales. The length of the fish is usually 10-12 centimeters. The largest specimens grow up to 17 centimeters. Females are larger in size compared to males. Moreover, each fish weighs no more than 45 grams. Sprat is characterized by smooth scales that have a beautiful shine. At the same time, the dark back is combined with silvery sides and an almost white belly. Thanks to this, the fish does not look too noticeable in the water column.
Habitat
Sprat primarily lives in salty sea waters. However, sometimes it enters the deltas of freshwater rivers. It is noteworthy that in 1930, the Abrau sprat, which lives in fresh lakes, was described for the first time. Its close variety has become widespread in the fresh lakes of Turkey. However, in general, sprat is a marine fish.
The distribution area of individuals can be determined by the names of species that are associated with the seas. There are Black Sea, Arabian, Baltic, and Caspian species of sprat. It is important to consider that the population of such fish in the northern Russian and European seas is higher than in the south. This is due to the amount of food in reservoirs.
Diet
Regardless of where the sprat lives, its diet is the same. The fish feeds on plankton, which contains algae, crustaceans, and mollusks. The fish can also consume fry and eggs of other individuals.
Lifestyle
If you evaluate the behavior of the sprat, you will be able to see a number of features. This fish is small in size and has a high rate of movement. At the same time, it is characterized by a short life expectancy.
Sprat leads a gregarious lifestyle. As they approach the shore, the flocks unite into large schools. The fish are fast moving. Moreover, they move very chaotically. When individuals approach the surface, it feels like the water is boiling. Then the fish just as abruptly moves into the open sea. At the same time, it stays at a depth of 6-30 meters. The deepest-sea species is considered to be the big-eyed sprat. It descends 70-200 meters from the surface of the water.
Reproduction and spawning
The average lifespan of individuals is 5 years. Fish can reproduce as early as the 2nd year of life. This fish spawns from April to October - it all depends on the species. Spawning occurs in portions. This is possible in shallow water or far from the shore. During spawning, sprat lay pelagic eggs. This means that the eggs are on the surface or in the structure of the water. Each female is capable of laying 6-14 thousand eggs.
Eggs measuring 1 millimeter grow within 1-3 days. The larval stage lasts up to 6 months. During this time, a small part of the larvae transforms into fry. They develop in coastal zones at a depth of 2-3 meters. These individuals eat rotifers and larvae of mollusks and crustaceans. As the fry grow, after some time they move to a considerable depth and move away from the shore.
Do sprat have enemies?
Sprat is eaten by marine mammals, large fish and birds. These individuals are a source of food for dolphins, gulls, seals, and pike perch. Sturgeon and herring also feed on fish. Only her high speed and protective shade of scales save her from enemies.
Fishing
Sprat is a popular commercial fish that is caught in many countries around the world. Every year the catch reaches 600 thousand tons. But despite this, the population remains stable and does not change. Researchers continue to closely monitor the seasonal migrations of large schools. At the same time, they are discussing the separation of individual subspecies into separate species. For example, Abrau sprat is positioned in many publications as an independent species.
Use in cooking
Sprat has a characteristic delicate taste. The flavor of the fish is affected by the bones and skin as it is cooked whole. It is important to remove only the intestines. This fish absorbs the aromas of the ingredients, so you should be very careful when choosing additional products and spices.
The taste depends on the method of preparation. Fish can be fried, stewed, salted or smoked. In any case, it is necessary to get rid of the intestines. At the same time, the carcass itself is eaten. It doesn't even need to be peeled.
Contraindications
Fish brings great health benefits. However, not everyone is allowed to use it. For some people, sprat does more harm than good. It is forbidden to add fish to the diet for those people who have individual intolerance. However, this problem is extremely rare.
Another danger lies in the cooking method. Of course, fish can be fried or baked. However, most often it is canned. This product contains a lot of salt and vinegar. Spices have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the digestive system. Therefore, a canned product can lead to peptic ulcers.
If a person has various pathologies of the digestive organs, such as gastritis, pancreatitis or pancreatic diseases, there is a risk of developing relapses. Also, sprat should be limited in children's diets. It leads to increased stress on the digestive organs.
Restrictions also apply to smoked sprat. Even if the carcasses were cooked over a real fire, they contain a lot of resins and tanning components. Such substances cause complications and harm the digestive organs. In industrial environments, so-called liquid smoke is often used. However, researchers note that it has carcinogenic properties. Therefore, the amount of smoked sprat in your diet should be limited.
Popular recipes
The product is included in many popular dishes. Soups are often made from it. To get a tasty and aromatic dish, you need to take the following components:
- 2 liters of water;
- 3 potatoes;
- 1 can of sprat in tomato;
- 1 onion;
- 1 carrot;
- salt;
- Bay leaf;
- greenery;
- half a glass of rice.
To prepare the soup, it is recommended to follow these steps:
- Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into small cubes.
- Peel the carrots and chop them using a coarse grater.
- Cut the onion into cubes.
- Place vegetables in a saucepan and add rice.
- Add spices and bay leaf.
- Wait for the liquid to boil and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.
- 5 minutes before the end of the cooking process, place the fish in the pan and stir.
- Sprinkle the finished dish with chopped herbs.
You can also pickle sprat. To get this snack, it is recommended to do the following:
- 1 kilogram of frozen sprat;
- 3 tablespoons salt;
- coriander;
- black pepper;
- Bay leaf;
- greens for serving.
To get such a dish, you need to do the following:
- Defrost the fish and rinse it in running water.
- Grind the coriander peas in a mortar.
- Place the sprat in a container, add salt and sprinkle with chopped coriander. After this, all ingredients should be mixed.
- Place the fish under the press for 10 hours and place in a cool place.
Sprat can be used to make a delicious potato salad. To do this you will need to take the following:
- 8 pieces of spicy salted sprat;
- 2 potatoes;
- 2 eggs;
- 1 small spoon of grainy mustard;
- 2 tablespoons unrefined vegetable oil;
- dill;
- salt;
- onion.
To prepare this dish, it is recommended to do the following:
- Wash the potatoes and boil them in their skins until tender. After this, the vegetables need to be cooled and peeled.
- Hard boil the eggs, cool and peel.
- Cut the potatoes into small cubes and place in a bowl.
- Add herbs, salt, oil, mustard and mix thoroughly.
- Place the ingredients in a serving container and place the fish fillet on top.
- Garnish the dish with onions and dill.
Sprat is a well-known fish that belongs to the Herring family. It has become widespread in various countries of the world. At the same time, the fish has a pleasant taste and aroma, which allows it to be actively used in cooking.
