Herring eggs are deposited on the seabed in discrete gravel beds or flat stone and the herring are completely reliant on these spawning beds for reproduction. Spawning beds refers to known discrete gravel beds used by herring. Nearby spawning beds are grouped into spawning grounds, which may contain one or more spawning beds. Spawning grounds are further grouped into spawning areas. Collated information from both the fishing industry and seabed surveys (INFOMAR) to produce a detailed inventory of individual herring spawning beds, grounds and areas around the coast of the Republic of Ireland.