The Deco Bay loads up on herring during the second opening of the 2015 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery, on Thursday, March 19. (Photo courtesy of Angela Marie Christensen)
The Alaska Department of Fish & Game opened waters north and west of Middle and Crow Islands during the second 2015 herring opener. (Map courtesy of ADF&G)
Sitka’s sac roe herring fleet had its third opening Friday (3-20-15), but only about five seiners participated. The rest sat out Friday’s fishing, to let processors work through Thursday’s 2900-ton catch.
Alaska Department of Fish & Game biologist Dave Gordon estimated the fleet would have a total catch of about 600 tons by the end of the day. That would bring the total so far to about 4100 tons. The harvest limit for this year is 8,712 tons.
The fishery opened at 9 a.m., and Fish & Game planned to close it at 6 p.m.
Seiners are fishing in a “controlled” fishery this year, with each boat targeting a set amount of fish. That has meant a much more relaxed, and slower-paced scene than usual.
Gordon said he expects to continue opening the fishery from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the weekend, unless conditions change or processors get overloaded.
As with the past two days, today’s open waters were north and west of Middle Island.
ADF&G is issuing updates over VHF radio, on Channel 10.
