Populations of Atlantic herring larvae Clupea harengus harengus L. were reared in 300 m3 in situ plastic enclosures for about 60 d

A patch of herring larvae Clupea harengus L. was located off Cape Wrath (north coast of Scotland) on 23 Aug 1985 and its movements tracked for 13 d. The trajectory was first eastwards to approximately 3"45'W and then northwards up the west side of the Orkney Isles. Hydrographic, current meter and drifting buoy measurements indicated that significant variation in the circulation regime of the inshore waters between Cape Wrath and the Orkney Isles occurred during the tracking period, and these were clearly reflected in the drift trajectory. Repeated sampling of a fixed line of stations over a 4 mo period from August to November indicated that larvae were retained in the inshore region off the north of Scotland but were rapidly dispersed from areas further offshore.