Once again this year, a great deal of herring is expected to be up for grabs in remote Western Alaska waters including Norton Sound, Goodnews Bay and Security Cove.
In fact, a harvest up to the anticipated quota of 23,172 tons would be "one of the largest on record" in the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim region, says this news release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The perennial question with AYK herring, however, is whether any processors will show up to support a fishery.
"...a great deal...", fishing tons of herring for a cheap price is nothing more than raping the sea. Leave them in the sea to feed the sea mammals and other larger fish who eat smaller fish. That'll help keep our oceans healthy.
ReplyDeleteCareful ADF&G on what you predict. A "record" was predicted last yr for Sitka Sound and only half the herring showed. A similar situation occurred in Hoonah Sound.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Lenfest Report (http://www.lenfestocean.org/foragefish) forage fish (including herring)are worth twice as much being left in the water supporting other fisheries as they to direct fisheries.
No citizen I know of can give cautionary advice to ADF&G. They wear their authority like the gangsters wear tatoos. It's no wonder they have trained lawyers as Directors. They have to cover their own backs too often.
ReplyDeleteHerring are an important food resource for the bigger, better sea life in the sea. Leave them in the sea to feed the others.
ReplyDeleteThe "forage" debate is a good one. There are reports that contradict Lenfest. Herring biomass alone is only a small portion of the total forage base. Haw many of the "save the ocean" folks have even been on it and seen first hand what is actually out there?
ReplyDeleteScrew Lenfest
ReplyDeleteWhat a stupid headline. Deckboss's journalistic chops gets worse and worse. Why not tell us in the headline what the post is about? A simple headinbg like "AYK Herring Quotas Up" would give a reader an idea whether or not they care. Journalism 101, Wesley; get back in shape.
ReplyDelete