Even more Sitka Sound herring expected in 2011

Look for another enormous herring haul in Sitka Sound next spring.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game today announced a guideline harvest level of 19,490 tons for the 2011 sac roe herring fishery.

That compares to a quota of 18,293 tons for the 2010 fishery.

This truly is a time of extraordinary abundance for Sitka herring.

State biologists say it's "apparent that the Sitka Sound herring stock is at the highest levels seen since the department began monitoring the stock in 1964."

Read the full announcement here.