The Kodiak commercial herring sac roe fishery opens today at noon. Due to recent low participation in the fishery by gill-netters, changes were made in how fishing periods will be implemented.

The following sections will open for gillnet gear at noon and remain open until further notice: Afognak Districts (Malina Bay and Raspberry Strait); Uyak District (Browns Lagoon, Zachar Bay and Spiridon Bay); Alitak District (Sulua Bay and Lower Olga Bay); Uganik District (Viekoda Bay, Terror Bay and West Uganik Passage); Eastside District (Shearwater, Inner Kiliuda and Inner Ugak bays); Inner Marmot District (Anton Larsen and Sheratin bays); and Womens Bay.

The remaining purse seine areas open at noon, and fishing periods run from noon to 9 p.m. on odd-numbered days, and 9 a.m. to noon on even numbered days, followed by a 24-hour closed period.

Inner Uyak Bay and Outer Ugak Bay will be open to purse seine gear, but openings are delayed and announced by emergency order, with a 24-hour advance notice.

Uganik and Danger bays will be open to both gear types. In Uganik, the Village Islands, Northeast Arm, East Arm and South Arm sections will be combined as a single unit, Village Islands/Uganik Bay. Fishing periods will be determined inseason. If gillnet permit holders are present, fishing days will alternate between the two gear types, with purse seine gear fished first.

In Danger Bay, the purse seine season opens April 15 and follows the prescribed schedule for seiners. The gillnet gear opens at noon April 16 until April 17 at noon, with subsequent fishing periods opening at noon on even-numbered days and closing at noon on odd-numbered days. Possible openings in the Paramanof Bay and Foul Bay sections will be given a 24-hour advance notice if sufficient biomass is present.

The following areas are designated exploratory and will open to either gear type: Afognak District (Perenosa and Bluefox bays); Eastside District (Kaiugnak Bay, SW Sitkalidak, Three Saints Bay, Newman Bay and Tanginak Anchorage); Mainland Districts (Inner Kukak, Inner Katmai, Wide, Alinchak, Puale and Portage bays); and Geese/Two Headed section of the Alitak District.

Beginning May 1, the department may open any area with outstanding quota to any gear type. All sac roe herring fishermen wishing to continue fishing after April 30 must register with ADF&G. Registration will begin April 25, either at the ADF&G office or in the field if ADF&G personnel are on scene.

Recent fishery information is obtained by calling the department’s 24-hour record-a-phone, 486-4559.