Harvesters in the Sitka Sound herring fishery caught 2,800 tons of fish through March 26, despite inclement weather that included 20 knot winds and snow squalls.
Aerial surveys by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on March 26 and March 27 produced poor results due to those winds, low clouds, rain and snow precipitation, state biologists said.
Herring schools were spotted in Eastern Bay and a small area of spawn was seen less than a quarter of a mile away in Eastern Bay as well. Herring predators were scattered between shoals Point and Eastern Bay with no significant concentrations located.
A vessel survey conducted by the R/V Kestrel showed schools of fish in deeper waters east of Middle and Big Gavanski islands. Several schools of fish were found south of Sitka, but no large biomass was found, biologists said.
The cumulative spawn mileage for 2018 is 7.4 nautical miles.
