 By Larry Demmert January 21, 2009
Sitka herring is a very good example of successful stock management. Back in the 40s and 50s the uncontrolled herring reduction fisheries did severe damage to all herring stocks, then the Pulp mills moved in to further decimate the Sitka and Ketchikan herring stocks. In the early 70s the first Sac Roe fisheries were very small quotas of around 5-600 tons, the biomass was in the low thousands of tons. After the pulp mills closed and ADF&G managed the fishery it has blossomed to record returns of close to 100 thousand tons! In Ketchikan the herring also rebounded strongly after the Pulp mill there closed, though herring have tails and spawn in many area , Kah shakes, Annette Island and Behm Canal, this is an area the size of Sitka sound, where the fish spawn in various different areas every year, not always in the designated fishery areas, lately Annette Island has had a very successful Sac Roe Fishery, which the fish may have moved from Kah shakes and Behm canal for unknown reasons.( Maybe the submarine test area?) I believe the attempted listing
was denied , I also believe it was requested to be listed by
sports/charter groups. About: Received January 16, 2009 - Published January 21, 2009
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