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

Published 2021년 3월 24일

Tridge summary

Alaska's roe herring fisheries are expected to have a bountiful catch in 2021, with the largest being in Togiak at Bristol Bay. However, there is low interest from both harvesters and processors due to a weak market, particularly in Japan which is the main buyer. The market has deteriorated over the past two decades, with herring fetching only a fraction of the price it did in the 1990s. The industry needs to find alternative ways to sell the herring, such as bait or food, and there is potential to increase the value of the dumped fish by processing it into fillets. The current regulations, which have managed the herring for sac roe since the 1970s, may need to be changed to allow for the sale of herring as bait or in other forms, and the Board of Fish is considering these possibilities.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

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 ...

Source: AlaskaFish Radio