Daily Sitka Sentinel

More Herring Spawn in Sound

By Sentinel Staff

An aerial survey today measured 5.9 nautical miles of active herring spawning on Kruzof Island, from Lava Island to Fred’s Creek, Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

“Weather during the flight was good, with light winds and low overcast,” F&G assistant area management biologist Aaron Dupuis said in today’s update.

The survey, which covered the Sitka Sound area from windy Passage to Krestof Sound, showed numerous schools in Krestof Sound and Olga Strait.

The next aerial survey and fishery update will be Saturday.

Fish and Game hasn’t officially canceled the commercial sac roe fishery, but processors have told Dupuis they don’t plan to participate. The returning biomass this year is expected to be one of the largest in the fishery, at 212,330 tons, and the guideline harvest level is 25,000 tons. However, 83 percent of the fish are expected to be 4-year-olds and not a marketable size.

Processors also have cited disruption to the market caused by the coronavirus pandemic.