By Sentinel Staff
An opening was called in the Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery today, the sixth one since the fishery began last Saturday.
Today’s opening was in Hayward Strait, where fishing has also been concentrated in previous days. The opening started at 10:30 a.m. and was to close at 4:30 p.m.
During Wednesday’s fishing, a small area near Point Brown was closed to seining “because subsistence roe-on-branch sets were identified by the department in that area of herring spawn,” the Department of Fish and Game said.
While Wednesday’s commercial harvest figures are not yet released, Fish and Game said seiners caught 1,500 tons of herring Tuesday, for a combined total of 7,300 tons since the first opening last Saturday. The guideline harvest level this year is 45,164 tons.
On Wednesday, Fish and Game’s aerial survey of Sitka Sound showed about 5.3 nautical miles of spawn spread along the eastern shore of Kruzof Island, the south shore of Krestof Island, and in the Crow Pass area.
While the tugboat Western Mariner that grounded March 23, spilling diesel fuel in Neva Strait, was refloated and towed to Sitka, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation warned subsistence gatherers to beware of possible contamination remaining in the area.
DEC cautioned against harvesting shellfish or herring roe on kelp from Neva Strait or St. John Baptist Bay for the time being.
“Avoid setting gear or harvesting wherever oil or sheens can be seen or smelled on the beach or water,” DEC advised.
