By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists conducted the first aerial survey of Sitka Sound in preparation for the annual sac roe herring fishery.
“No herring or herring spawn was observed,” F&G Area Management Biologist Eric Coonradt said in his report.
This year’s guideline harvest level is 12,869 tons based on a 20 percent harvest rate of a forecasted mature biomass of 64,343 tons. Last year the quota was 11,128 tons, but the fishery closed after seiners took just over 2,926 tons in a cooperative fishery.
Coonradt said that in today’s survey of an area between Crawfish Inlet and Hayward Strait the number and location of herring predators were recorded.
“The highest concentration of herring predators was observed between Bieli Rock, Inner Point and Hayward Strait, where numerous whales were seen working in deeper waters north of Bieli Rock,” he said. He estimated 280 sea lions in several large groups were holding off on the rock piles at Bieli Rock.
Four whales and a small group of sea lions were seen off the Lisianski Peninsula, and south of Sitka four whales were spotted in outer Eastern Channel.
A sonar survey of north Sitka Sound on Monday showed small schools of herring starting north of Old Sitka Rocks and ending near Lisianski Point. The deep water between Bieli Rock, Inner Point and Hayward Strait contained most of the herring seen on the survey, with a school stretching the width of the southern portion of the trench, and nearly the length of the eastern portion of the trench. Coonradt said the school was about 20 to 30 fathoms in depth and topped out around 50 fathoms.
Last year’s seine fleet went on two-hour notice on March 20, and the fishery was opened on March 25. It was closed April 3 after Fish and Game and industry representatives agreed that it was unlikely more marketable fish would be found.
Coonradt said predators and herring appear to be in similar locations this year, and the timing appears to be “tracking to be similar to last year.”
“I think we have a little bit of time, with the fish holding deep,” he said.
Prior to a fishery Fish and Game takes test samples to give management biologists a better idea on when the herring will spawn. Coonradt said some seiners have already volunteered to make test sets later in the week.
“Timing of the fishery is what we’re looking at right now,” he said.
Fish and Game officials say they expect boats representing all 48 permit holders to take part in a full competitive fishery this year.
Coonradt said the next update will be announced on Friday, when the next survey is scheduled.
“Once test sampling indicates increasing roe maturity, the department will place the fishery on two-hour notice and schedule a pre-fishery organizational meeting,” he said in the update.
