Fish
European Smelt
Osmerus eperlanus · also called sparling
On a spring night in a tidal river, a run of silvery smelt moves upstream, each fish giving off a faint, unmistakable smell of cucumber.
Overview
The European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus, is a Least Concern fish of estuaries, coastal waters, and the lower reaches of rivers around the North Sea and Baltic. Its cucumber smell, its spring runs, and its role as prey make it one of the most distinctive small fish of northern European estuaries.
A fish that smells like a salad
The cucumber smell of the smelt is so strong that anglers and fishmongers can often detect a catch before they see it.
Status
Least Concern, widespread but sensitive to pollution.
European Smelt: common questions
Why does a smelt smell of cucumber?
It gives off a distinctive smell often compared to cucumber, which is the fish's most unusual feature.
Where does the smelt spawn?
It moves up into the lower reaches of rivers in spring to spawn over gravel and plants.
What eats smelt?
It is an important prey fish for cod, sea trout, cormorants, and terns.
Where is the European smelt found?
It lives in estuaries, coastal waters, and the lower reaches of rivers around the North Sea and Baltic, and in some lakes in northern Europe.