Bad news for those wanting marinated herring on the table this Easter.

Norway, one of the major herring suppliers for marinated varieties, has cut its herring quota by 40 per cent and prices have begun to rocket, according to the Association of Consumer Fish Employers.

“There is a major demand for big Norwegian herring in Russia, Poland and Sweden – even a country like Nigeria imports Norwegian herring. Everyone wants herring and so prices go haywire,” says Association Chairwoman Susanne Folmer.

The larger Norwegian herring are favourites for herring varieties such as marinated, pickled and curry herring.

But raw material prices for Norwegian herring have risen by 77 per cent, making all sorts of pickled herring more expensive, with price increases in Denmark at between five and 10 kroner per jar.

Unlike the Norwegian herring quota which has been reduced, the Danish herring quota has been increased by 120 per cent, according to the Association. But none of the four Danish producers of marinated and pickled herring use the smaller Danish herring, which are predominantly exported to Germany.

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