A big haul for US, Alaska roe herring but interest is lackluster again by both harvesters and buyers

Kazunoko, or salted herring roe Credit: Just One Cookbook, It’s a big year for Alaska roe herring fisheries but lackluster interest by both harvesters and processors is an ongoing story., The fishery at Sitka Sound will take off any day after a two year stall due to small fish and a weak market. The seine fleet has a harvest of 33,304 tons, or nearly 67 million pounds but managers predict low participation and limited processing capacity., Ten or 15 boats could fish at Kodiak for one of its biggest fisheries for decades at 7,895 tons, or nearly 16 million pounds., Togiak at Bristol Bay is Alaska’s largest roe herring fishery, this year with a whopping 42,639 ton harvest, or more than 85 million pounds. Last year only 3 boats and one buyer showed up there., The reason? The herring market has tanked over two decades by the single buyer – Japan where tastes and buying policies have changed. In the 1990s, buyers there paid Alaska fishermen over $1,000 a ton, and while product ...