An aerial photo captures herring spawn and hundreds of Steller sea lions in the mix along the shoreline of Kruzof Island on April 5, 2021.
This year's mature herring biomass in the Sitka Sound is expected to be the largest ever with a forecasted 225,820 tons according to Sitka Area Management Biologist Aaron Dupuis of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The high forecast has also resulted in the highest guideline harvest level (GHL) ever set for the annual sac roe herring fishery of 45,164 tons or 20% of the sound's total mature herring biomass.
Dupuis said the biggest factor impacting the forecast is the "very large" class of herring from 2016 which has now reached maturity.
"It was the highest recruitment that we've ever se...
Reader Comments(0)