SITKA, ALASKA
The opening took place again in Eastern Channel, and lasted one hour and twenty minutes.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, seiners landed 4,095 tons, bringing this year’s total catch so far to over 16,000 tons. The Department plans to hold off on more fishing until at least Saturday to allow processors to catch up.
As of Thursday, local ADF&G offices had received over 50 fish tickets for this year’s fishery. A fish ticket is a form of contract between a registered buyer of fish and a licensed commercial fisherman. None of the tickets received by ADF&G so far contain price information.
Widespread destruction of Japan’s seafood processing infrastructure in last month’s earthquake and tsunami has contributed to uncertainty over herring prices, which in 2010 pushed $650 per ton. None of the industry representatives contacted by Raven News during the current fishery has been willing to comment on the record about prices.
John Sackton, an industry analyst and the publisher of seafood.com says “It’s up in the air.”
But even in a typical year current prices for herring are sometimes hard to come by. Processors grade the fish and offer premiums for high roe content. Final settlements may not be reported to the state until months after the fishery.
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