Commercial Fishing Boats in Alaska during the Herring Run

Viathelens · Apr 18, 2023

It was fascinating to me to watch the commercial fishing boats operate in Sitka, Alaska during the herring run. There was literally an air of excitement that drifted over the 25 or so boats and over me during the run. The big commercial fishing boats come from many different places, one was from Oregon, to fish the herring. They sit and wait until told the run is open for some number of hours then all mill around looking for the best bunch of herring in that spot. One boat got a net caught in their prop and it's a miracle that it doesn't happen more often. Using a long lens makes the boats look closer than they actually were, of course, but they were pretty close at times. I loved being able to be a part of this and its something I'll only see once. I was told that the Japanese buy the fish for the roe, I don't know what happens to the herring.