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. Central Baltic herring (subdivisions 25–29 and 32) are mixing in the Gulf of Riga herring in the Gulf of Riga area (subdivision 28.1). Additionally, it is known that Gulf of Riga Atlantic herring are caught in the Central Baltic Sea Area (ICES 2017)(ICES 2017). This profile covers the Gulf of Riga herring stock.

About 85% of the total Latvian herring catches are taken by trawls and 15% by trap-nets. Latvian herring fleets fish in the Gulf of Riga (eastern part of Subdivision 28) and in Subdivisions 26 and 28.2 of the Baltic Proper. In the Gulf of Riga there is a trawl fleet and a trap-net fleet. The trawl fishery targets herring and the landings include a small by-catch of sprat. The trap-net fishery is targeting spawning herring. The number of trap-nets has been limited and number of nets has been rather stable since the mid-1990s. The Baltic Proper herring fishery uses trawls and the number of trap-nets is minimal. Since 2002, herring targeted fishery has been forbidden and the by-catch of herring in the sprat-targeted fishery has been limited to 5%. The sprat fishing fleet operates in Subdivisions 26 and 28.2.