Herring Fishery
Dear Editor: Alaska’s commercial fishermen are some of the most conservation-minded fishermen in the world. There is no place that has better science-based fishery management than here in Alaska. The Sitka herring fishery is a testament to those facts.
The biomass of herring in Sitka Sound is extremely healthy and has grown substantially since the sac roe fishery began in the 1970s. It is likely to get better with the arrival of a very large recruitment of 3-year-old herring entering the spawning population this year.
This year the fishery is facing some strong headwinds. It is not a lack of herring, but instead there are too many young herring entering the biomass this year thereby lowering the overall size and roe recovery of the stock. The market for the roe herring is weak this year due to the fact that the Canadians harvested fish of a better size and roe recovery than we are able to produce from Sitka Sound this year and the exchange rate is favorable for them.
Therefore, we are unwilling to fish for the price that is being offered for the fish we currently have seen on the grounds. Even though the permit holders, boat owners, crews, pilots, tender men, processors and support personnel, who have huge investments and overhead costs in their operations, and who come from all over Alaska, will suffer substantial financial hardships, have decided that we would rather let all of the herring spawn in the hope that they will be of the size and quality that will meet the market needs next year.
We know that one of the concerns of the Tribe is the lack of spawn in the designated subsistence area last year. We don’t control that…. Only Mother Nature controls that. There was a very dense spawn on Kruzof Island last year and that is probably where the herring went that usually spawn closer to town. It is quite possible they chose that shoreline due to the constant harassment by whales and sea lions driving them into the deepest waters of the sound off Kruzof Island.
This year with the wide distribution of herring throughout Sitka Sound there will be many opportunities to gather subsistence eggs.
In fact, as a group we have aided in the harvest of subsistence eggs for several years. We are willing to do it again for the benefit of all subsistence users. But Sitka Tribe has asked us to not participate in the subsistence harvest this year. Although we fully support subsistence opportunity and assisting in the harvest, we will not be supplying any eggs this year. We regret that we cannot help provide roe on branches this year, as we know many members of the community enjoy and benefit from this access.
There is a viable and healthy stock of herring in Sitka Sound and we fishermen want it to stay that way.
Chuck Olson, Member
Southeast Herring
Conservation Alliance
School Project
Dear Editor: Hello! I am a fourth-grade student in North Carolina. In fourth grade, we research a state for our state fair, and I have chosen your state. Now I am very excited to learn more about the great state of Alaska, as I work on my report.
Most of the information I get will be from books and websites. However, the best information comes from the people who live in and love their state. This is why I am writing to you. I was hoping that you would be willing to send me some small items to help me learn more about the best things in your state. It could be things like postcards, maps, pictures, general information, this newspaper article, or any other items that you think would be useful. You can mail items to the address below by April 30 for our State Fair on May 17. I really appreciate your help and will do my very best to send a thank you note to each and every person who takes the time and makes the effort to help me with this project. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Neil Swift,
Mr. McConaughy’s Class
Charlotte Latin School
9502 Providence Road
Charlotte, N.C. 28277
