Hope for herring

An updated Prince William Sound herring stock assessment shows an estimated spawning biomass of 29,253 short tons.

"It is the largest estimate since 2008 and is 119.9 percent above the 10-year average (2013-22) of 13,305 short tons," says this advisory announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Pollock power in the Bering Sea

The quota for Bering Sea pollock is likely to remain high next year based on the new stock assessment.

Government scientists are recommending an ABC (acceptable biological catch) of 2,800,000 metric tons, the highest level ever and well above this year's 2,090,000 tons.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will adopt the 2017 TAC (total allowable catch) at its December meeting in Anchorage.

For a number of reasons, the council typically sets a conservative TAC well below the ABC.

Based on the strong stock assessment, it appears the council will be free to set a TAC at least as high as this year's 1,340,000 tons.

Bering Sea pollock is Alaska's largest fishery by volume.

Pollock aplenty

The Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock appears quite healthy, and federal regulators are likely to set another large harvest quota for the 2016 season.

That's based on the lastest stock assessment, which recommends an ABC, or acceptable biological catch, of 2,090,000 tons.

That's more than enough to allow for a quota equal to or greater than this year's 1,310,000 tons.

Bering Sea pollock is one of the world's largest and most lucrative commercial fish stocks. The whitefish is used to produce such products as fish sticks and surimi.

Pollock roe also is very valuable, comprising over 4 percent of the catch weight under optimal conditions.

From 1977-2015, the Eastern Bering Sea pollock catch has averaged 1,178,008 tons.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will set 2016 quotas for pollock and other Alaska groundfish at its meeting next month in Anchorage.

Bering Sea pollock stock surges

Preliminary results indicate a nearly 60 percent increase in pollock survey biomass in the Bering Sea, the National Marine Fisheries Service says. More details here.

A 56 percent hike in Bering Sea pollock catch?

Going on sale next year. Deckboss photo

The National Marine Fisheries Service has posted its draft assessment of the eastern Bering Sea pollock stock, and it indicates we could see a big increase in the commercial catch limit for 2011.

Scientists recommend an "acceptable biological catch" of 1.267 million metric tons. They project a 2012 ABC of 1.595 million tons.

Regulators often set the annual commercial harvest limit — what's known as the total allowable catch — at the same level as the ABC.

For this year, the ABC and the TAC were identical at 813,000 tons.

So, a TAC of 1.267 million tons for next year would be a nearly 56 percent increase!

How can this be?

Well, among other factors, the scientists say their at-sea surveys this year yielded better than expected pollock biomass estimates. See page 2 of the draft assessment for a quick summary.

This news is bound to relieve the pollock industry, which has lived with poor catch limits the past three years.

But critics of how the pollock fishery is managed likely will be alarmed at the prospect of a larger commercial catch.

Pollock is the largest U.S. fishery by weight, and one of the most lucrative. The lanky bottom fish are used for a variety of familiar products such as fish sticks, the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich and imitation crab meat.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council convenes next month in Anchorage to consider the data and recommend a 2011 pollock TAC to the commerce secretary, who has final say.