Species

European sprat

Sprattus sprattus ⚠︎ sold as sardine, but not one

The European sprat is a small clupeid of the Baltic and North Sea that is commonly canned and sometimes marketed as 'sardines' or 'brisling sardines', but it is not a true sardine under EU labelling rules.

Family	Clupeidae
Also called	Sprat, Brisling, Skipper
Seas / areas	Baltic Sea (FAO 27.IIID); North Sea and Northeast Atlantic (FAO 27)

About the fish

Ranges across the northeast Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea and into the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
A small pelagic schooling fish, commonly around 12 cm and rarely exceeding 16 cm in length.
Under EU Regulation (EEC) No 2136/89 only Sardina pilchardus may be sold as plain 'sardines'; sprat is not a true sardine and cannot use the unqualified name.
Canned tins labelled 'brisling' or Baltic 'sardines' are frequently sprat rather than genuine sardine.
A major forage fish and one of the most heavily landed small pelagics in the Baltic.