Sprat is a small, oily ocean fish in the herring family. There are several kinds of sprat. The best-known kind is the European sprat, which reaches 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. It lives in European coastal waters from the Baltic and North seas to the Mediterranean and Black seas. It has a flattened body with a saw-toothed edge along the belly. Sprat are important food fish. They are eaten fresh or smoked. Some are canned in oil as brisling sardines. Others are processed for oil and fish meal. See also Herring; Sardine.
