Herring on the run

[Exocet]

The start of the Herring Run here in Deep Bay, Vancouver Island. The packer, Western Star was originally from Seatle, has been on the hook here for at least a year now, first time I've seen her working. CanFish packer moved in last week, and the herring fleet has barely started to arrive.

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[David M]

Interesting stuff!

We have our herring season on the SF Bay a month or two earlier than you do. We don't have a "mother ship" though. The herring boats take their catch over to a place at Fisherman's Wharf.

Here at least, for the last couple of years we have had a lot fewer herring boats. What I hear is that Japan has a much lower demand for the herring roe, therefore the prices the boats are fetching are much lower than what they once were.

[Exocet]

A lot less boats here also. Used to be there was soo many boats you could not see the water. Talked to a few fishermen, they said that the run was good and filled thier quota quickly, so sounds like there are herring. Herring fishery is ending here now though.
The herring run is a great time, your Califonia sea lions, Eagles, seals, and killer whales all converge for the feeding frenzy, all in all pretty neat. Besides, the end of the herring run signals its time to get that boat ready for another season, Yahoo!!

[MoonlightShadow]

At a port I once worked from many years ago (Lowestoft UK), there were over a thousand Herring drifters there for the season. None now.

That was before my time, but when I was there we had about 120 deep sea trawlers, about two left I think. Sad to see the decline. Anywhere.