Sitka Herring Spawning Signals End of Sac Roe Fishery

The commercial sac roe herring fishery near Sitka, Alaska, is expected to taper off as herring continue to spawn in the region. This development follows the opening of the Sitka Sound fishery on March 27, 2026, which saw limited initial activity.

The fishery began with a six-hour window for commercial seiners to fish in Crescent Bay, from noon to 6 p.m. On March 27. Prior to the opening, test sets conducted that morning indicated roe maturity between 10 percent and 12 percent, with fish weights averaging between 151 and 177 grams.

Stock Projections and Harvest Guidelines

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) established a guideline harvest level (GHL) of 35,015 tons for the 2026 season. This figure is based on a forecasted average fish weight of 156 grams across all age classes.

State managers estimated the mature herring biomass at 233,433 tons, which represents a 6 percent decrease from the 247,081 tons estimated in 2025. To determine these biomass forecasts, the department utilizes a SCAA model incorporating long-term data on age composition and egg abundance.

Egg abundance is measured through a combination of vessel, aerial, and SCUBA diving surveys. Managers map shorelines where herring spawn and follow those maps with dive surveys to provide accurate estimates.

Market Challenges and Participation

Despite the projection of a healthy stock, industry expectations suggest that actual landings will fall significantly short of the GHL. This trend mirrors the 2025 season, where low buyer interest and limited fleet participation resulted in only 6,198 tons being landed from a GHL of 35,720 tons.

In 2025, the available allocation was only 17 percent utilized, with fewer than three harvesters participating in the fishery. An additional 266 tons were harvested through bait and test fisheries during that period.

Environmental Observations

ADF&G managers have conducted aerial surveys of Sitka Sound since mid-March 2026. While these surveys identified typical numbers of herring predators, such as sea lions, grey whales, and humpback whales, no schools of herring or spawn were visible from the air at the time of the March 27 announcement.

Historical mapping data from the spring of 2025 showed 89.5 nautical miles of unique shoreline with herring spawn in the Sitka Sound area.