Baltic Smelt

Smelt and European smelt belong to the special class of salmons (Osmerus). This is the diadromous sea-fish, which habits in isolated limnetic populations. For spawning it usually leaves for brooks and rivers 100 km away from the sea. It is widely spread and features high population. The main habitats are in the north-west region of the West Europe, the Baltic and the North Sea basins, in Ladoga and Onega Lakes. It only lives in clean water and prefers deep cold water, in summer it stays in lower layers of cold water, in winter occurs in shallow waters.

It has elongated body, covered with big scales. Its sides are silvery, the mouth is big, the back is brown-green. It feeds on fish roe, zooplankton and juvenile fishes. Smelt is not big, and its normal size is approx. 10 cm. Its length does not exceed 35 cm and it weighs not more than 350 g.

Smelt has fatty delicate flesh with characteristic fresh flavour, resembling smell of cucumber or water-melon. The fish is easy to clean, and virtually has no scales. It has very tasty roe. Regardless of the significant fat content, that gives the fish excellent taste, the flesh is low in calories. On average, the energy value of smelt is 124 calories per 100 grams. The spelt flesh is very useful due to high content of valuable substances. Everybody can be recommended eating smelt regularly.