Herring Spawn Totals 83 NM

By Sentinel Staff

Herring spawning around Sitka Sound continued through Monday with significant amounts on beaches south of town, an aerial survey shows, the Department of Fish and Game said today.

About 12.5 miles of spawn was noted in Windy Passage, Dorothy Narrows, Hot Springs Bay, and in Pirate, Samsing, and Sandy Coves. Monday’s spawn event brought the season’s spawn to a total of 83.2 nautical miles.

The commercial sac roe fishery closed Friday after harvesting 16,000 tons over daily openings that began March 27. In January, Fish and Game set a guideline harvest at 33,304 tons but indicated a harvest of 20,000 tons or less was expected.