The twaite shad is mainly found in the Baltic Sea, up along the coast of Norway, all the way to the Canary Islands, in the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, but it also wanders into Icelandic waters, where it is not exploited.  The North Germans catch some of it in the Baltic, smoke the fish and sell it.

This fish has 60-65 scales along its mid-sides, 6-10 black spots on both sides of the upper torso, and the gill bows have 30-60 spikes.  It spawns in river estuaries and the fries are eventually carried to the sea.