Natural England - Smelt

Smelt

Osmerus eperlanus

Smelt are shoaling fish, distantly related to the salmon. They live in the salty water of estuaries and around the mouths of rivers. During May to August the smelt come upriver to spawn in fresh water before then returning to the sea.

Smelt are silvery-green in colour and usually around 20cm long, although they can grow to twice that length.

Threats to smelt populations include pollution and overfishing – smelt was once a delicacy and is now fished for pike bait. Smelt are also threatened by the loss of their habitat, especially spawning grounds, which may be destroyed by silting or construction. They may also be prevented from reaching their spawning grounds because of weirs or other barriers.

Most of the recorded populations in Scotland are now extinct, as are a third of those from estuaries in England and Wales. Populations can recover in areas where several estuaries interconnect, as one can restock another. However, once smelt have become locally extinct from isolated estuaries (such as the Tyne), they will not return.

Other common names

Rainbow smelt, European smelt, sand smelt, sea smelt, sparling (Scotland). Sand smelt may also be used to refer to Atherina presbyter, which is not protected.

Brief description of European distribution

Distribution map

Distribution map: (330kb)pdf document

Smelt are found throughout Western Europe and breed in a number of English rivers but are rare in Scotland and Wales.

Conservation status / need

UKBAP Priority Species

Species of principal importance for the purpose of conserving of biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

Further information sources

Fishexternal link JNCC website

Osmerus eperlanusexternal link World register of marine species (WoRMS)

Osmerus eperlanus European smeltexternal link Fishbase website

Osmerus eperlanusexternal link Marine species identification portal

Osmerus eperlanusexternal link European Environment Agency

The status of smelt Osmerus eperlanus in Englandexternal link Natural England ENRR516

European smelt Osmerus eperlanusexternal link Marine life information network

Interesting fact

Smelt are predators and eat other smaller fish. Adults are known to eat young smelt - even their own offspring.