Petersburg Pilot -

Herring roe ripens as the fish get ready to spawn; their small, white, hard eggs become golden, larger and more desirable.

The herring sac roe fishery is a careful waiting game in order to harvest maximum quality mature roe, before the herring spawn.

Prior to and during fishing periods, herring distribution, abundance, and quality of roe are monitored by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) via aerial survey, test fishing and vessel sonar surveys to check on the herring biomass.

"We've seen a large increase in the biomass of herring," ADFG Region I Management Coordinator Troy Thynes t...