The Alaska Department of Fish and Game hopes to generate $200,000 from a new herring test fishery. The fish would be used for both food and bait. The organization is trying to make up for cuts to the state’s general fund budget.
To do that, they’re looking for bids. So far there has been some interest, but there’s one significant hurdle.
"I think the main issue is just having enough storage for the bait out there to hold it until it’s needed for the fishery as bait,” said Lisa Fox, the area management biologist for the south Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Island salmon and herring fisheries.
Because of the strong El Nino year, Fox said, there is not the normal amount of available bait for pot cod and crab fisheries.
“So we looked at this as an opportunity to both provide a local bait source for the fisherman out there and also for us to take advantage of a resource that’s not completely being used to generate a little bit of money,” Fox said.
She says in future years the bait market could come back and this fishery might not be an option.
Ultimately, the agency is looking for the lowest bid that will yield maximum tonnage -- up to 500 tons per bid. Parties can submit four bids.
The earnings from the Dutch Harbor fishery will be shared between Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim, Dillingham, and Kodiak fish and game offices.
For more information on submitting a bid, contact Lisa Fox in Kodiak.
