Togiak herring fishery winds down

The big herring sac roe fishery at Togiak is nearly done.

Fishery managers have shut down the seine fleet, and the gillnetters will finish by the end of the month.

It's evident a lot of fish will be left in the water unharvested.

Here's a state press release, fresh out this afternoon:

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

May 27, 2009

Announcement: The Purse Seine Fishery Closes

This is the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Togiak with an announcement regarding the Togiak herring fishery.

Due to small fish size, decreasing roe percentages, and increased numbers of released sets, continued purse seine fishing is no longer warranted. The 2009 Togiak sac roe purse seine fishery will remain closed for the duration of the season. The final harvest was 12,404 tons approximately 83% of the quota.

The gillnet fishery will remain open until the quota is harvested or until 11:59 p.m. May 31. The gillnet harvest yesterday was 292 tons for a cumulative of 3,803 tons, approximately 60% of the quota.

Department staff will relocate to Dillingham this afternoon and be available for gillnet catch reports by phone at 842-5227 or trac phone at 1102.

Any seiner needing to clean their net is welcome to do so.

Processors, we would like to have final operations reports and fish tickets to our Dillingham office within 10 days of the last gillnet delivery.

Lastly we would like to thank everyone for all the help with samples and updates. Have a safe journey home and a good summer.

This has been the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Togiak.