Alaska News

Herring sac roe catch shares proposed

The fisheries blog Deckboss highlights an interesting proposal among the dozens on the agenda of the Alaska Board of Fisheries, which is beginning a 10-day meeting on Southeast finfish in Ketchikan today, Feb. 24.

For the third time, a catch-share plan has been proposed for the Sitka Sound herring sac roe seine fishery.

The proposals, numbers 233 and 234, would establish equal shares for seiners in the often hotly contested, high-stakes fishery, arguably Alaska's last full-on fish rodeo.

The fisherman who offered the proposal argues that the level of aggression and risk-taking have become unacceptable, and that equal shares would dramatically reduce the reckless behavior.

Opponents to the plan say that it would prevent top boats from getting a chance to strike it rich on a big set.

The proposal sponsor alleges, however, that some boats have already banded together in the fishery to create their own, private "combines," by which they restrict the fishing access of other boats and share the spoils.

Read much more from Deckboss, here.

And find all sorts of materials concerning the Board of Fisheries Southeast finfish meeting, including a full list of proposals, supplements and the schedule, here.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

ADVERTISEMENT