Abundant herring roe, most ever seen during the low tide - Toksook Bay, Alaska, USA
Observation: An abundance of kelp on one side of the island is the most I've ever seen during the low tide, near Paitaq Point. There is also a large deposit of herring eggs covering the kelp, which was harvested. Years ago people from Toksook Bay used to harvest the kelp's to put before the winter season arrived, Anna R. John
LEO says: Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii) - "The time it takes for Pacific herring eggs to hatch is dependent on the water temperature."
Status: Herring population abundance trends are very dynamic and are subject to fairly substantial changes on both large and small geographic scales. The primary cause for such fluctuations in abundance is environmental change that affects herring growth and recruitment.
Trends: Overall, Alaska herring stocks are well managed for their long-term sustained yield.
Threats: A threat to Pacific herring is the loss of spawning grounds. This habitat has been degraded or destroyed by dredging, construction activities, log storage, oil spills, and decreases in water quality. Global warming may also pose a threat to the species by reducing the availability of their prey; zooplankton and phytoplankton. In addition, the recovery of populations of predator species, such as humpback whales, may impact herring populations.
