Pacific herring
By Russel Barsh
Watch for herring!
What’s that milky stuff in the water? Hundreds of herring spawning in a shallow bay can turn seawater white to pale turquoise in color, creating a distinctive patch that can even be seen from the air. The scientists of Kwiáht need your help to locate herring spawning this spring!
Although their numbers have decreased greatly since the 1970s, herring continue to spawn occasionally in our waters, usually in March, April or May. Spawning is most often seen in Mud Bay, Hunter Bay, and Shoal Bay on Lopez; around West Sound and on both sides of Madrona Point on Orcas; and in the inlets near Roche Harbor and Garrison Bay on San Juan Island. But herring may spawn almost anywhere that they find seaweed to attach their eggs. Here in the islands, herring seem to prefer stringy seaweed such as small bladder kelp, not the seaweeds with large broad leaves.
If you think you have seen herring spawn, contact Kwiáht director Russel Barsh at once by email (kwiaht@gmail.com) or by leaving a message at 468-2808. Be sure to say where and when you saw the spawning, and how you can be contacted for more details.
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I had no idea that was what I was seeing!
Great time of year for birders too- especially if, like me, you like to see the scoters who come to feed on the herring eggs. Blind Bay on Shaw is another known herring spawning ground in the islands. And don’t forget about eelgrass- the washington department of fish and wildlife estimates that nearly 90% of local herring spawn occurs on this aquatic plant!