Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka Herring Fishery Launched

By Sentinel Staff
    The first opening in the annual Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery Wednesday yielded 530 tons of fish in a four-hour opening west of Crow Island and Bieli Rock, the Department of Fish and Game said today.
    Fishing continued today in an expanded area that included the Kruzof Island shoreline, with the catch of another 2,200 tons reported as of noon.
    Wednesday’s opening started at 3 p.m. and closed at 7 p.m. The fishery was reopened at 9 a.m. today.
    The 48 permit holders have agreed to have a cooperative fishery this year, sharing the proceeds of the catches hauled in by the designated seiners.
    Fish and Game Area Management Biologist Dave Gordon said he expects to keep the fishery open as long as good-quality fish are being caught, and adequate tendering and processing capacity is available.

Map shows today's opening. (ADF&G)

    “There are plenty of fish around,” he said. “Tenders are coming up and fulfilling their daily capacity that they want to take.”
    He said the quality of the 2,700-ton total catch is good so far, at between 10 to 15 percent mature roe content in mostly larger-size fish. There have been some releases on sets with lower-quality herring.
    The guideline harvest level is 8,712-tons.
    Gordon estimated about a dozen boats were fishing today, and other boats were on hand to tender.
    “It’s a beautiful day out there,” he said from the Fish and Game vessel on the fishing grounds.