(KCAW graphic/Robert Woolsey)
The Department of Fish & Game has announced that the first opening of the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery will be at approximately 1:45 PM today (Thu 3-20-14) in the area of Starrigavan and Katlian bays.
Fish & Game biologist Dave Gordon announced at around 11:45 AM that he had collected four test samples of fish today that tested well over 10% mature roe, the Department’s threshold for a fishery. The most recent two samples came back with 12.5% and 13.1% mature roe.
Gordon did not say how long the fishery would remain open, but the Department’s goal is to ensure the harvest does not exceed the processing capacity in Sitka, which is now about 2,000 tons of herring a day.
