The Norton Sound Fisheries Research and Development (NSFR&D) staff provides support for the Norton Sound herring fishery. Through aerial surveys, providing an observer for the processing vessel, trawl survey data collection and test fishing, NSFR&D provides the processor and fishermen with the following information to efficiently harvest Norton Sound herring:
Keep the fleet and processors informed of the current sea ice movement and densities.- Provide herring biomass and migration analysis.
- Identify exact location of large schools of herring during the fishery.
- Provide assistance and logistical support to processors for compliance with permit requirements.
Norton Sound herring is a tremendously large biomass that is currently underutilized. NSFR&D will continue to look for alternative times, locations and methods for commercially harvesting this resource.
