The experimental open pound herring roe-on-kelp

(ROK) fishery was studied in San Francisco Bay from

the second week of December 1988 through the third

week of February 1989.

Three spawning runs were fished successfully by

four operations consisting of six permittees. A

total of 47.1 tons of herring ROK was packed this

season.

Giant kelp, Macrocystis sp., was harvested from the

Santa Barbara Channel Islands and trucked to San

Francisco for hanging on the pounds. Sources of

high-quality giant kelp in California were

difficult to locate this season because of

unfavorable oceanographic conditions during the

winter months.

ROK was sampled at each shoreside processing

facility. There were no significant differences in

ROK blade measurements or roe densities among the

permittees.  ROK densities ranged from 0.250 to

0.699 g/cm2.

Plastic totes containing processed ROK averaged

1756 lbs total gross weight. Totes contained an

average of 42.3% ROK by weight.

Siltation of ROK harvested in south San Francisco

Bay continued to be a problem. High winds damaged

rafts in December 1988. Gear conflicts were

reported between ROK and herring roe permittees.  (25pp.

Oda, Kenneth T.

English

Aquatic Commons

State of California 
The Resources Agency 
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 
. THE PACIFIC HERRING, CLUPEA HARENGUS PALLASI, 
OPEN POUND ROE-ON-KELP EXPERIMENTAL FISHERY IN 
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, 1988 to 1989 
by 
Kenneth T. Oda 
MARINE RESOURCES DIVISION 
Administrative Report No. 89-7 
August 1989 
State of California 
The Resources Agency 
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 
THE PACIFIC HERRING, CLUPEA HARENGUS PALLASI, 
OPEN POUND ROE-ON-KELP EXPERIMENTAL FISHERY IN 
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, 1988 to 1989 
by 
Kenneth T. Oda 
MARINE RESOURCES DIVISION 
Administrative Report No. 89-7 
August 1989 
THE PACIFIC HERRING, CLUPEA HARENGUS PALLASI, 
OPEN POUND ROE-ON-KELP EXPERIMENTAL FISHERY IN 
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, 1988 to 1 9 8 9 ~  
by 
Kenneth T. 0 d a Y  
ABSTRACT 
The experimental open pound herring roe-on-kelp 
(ROK) fishery was studied in San Francisco Bay from 
the second week of December 1988 through the third 
week of February 1989. 
Three spawning runs were fished successfully by 
four operations consisting of six permittees. A 
total of 47.1 tons of herring ROK was packed this 
season. 
Giant kelp, Macrocystis sp., was harvested from the 
Santa Barbara Channel Islands and trucked to San 
Francisco for hanging on the pounds. Sources of 
high-quality giant kelp in California were 
difficult to locate this season because of 
unfavorable oceanographic conditions during the 
winter months. 
ROK was sampled at each shoreside processing 
facility. There were no significant differences in 
ROK blade measurements or roe densities among the 
permitteesi ROK densities ranged from 0.250 to 
0.699 g/cm . 
Plastic totes containing processed ROK averaged 
1756 lbs total gross weight. Totes contained an 
average of 42.3% ROK by weight. 
Siltation of ROK harvested in south San Francisco 
Bay continued to be a problem. High winds damaged 
rafts in December 1988. Gear conflicts were 
reported between ROK and herring roe permittees. 
Marine Resources Administrative Report No. 89-7. 
V Marine Resources Division, 411 Burgess Drive, Manlo Park, 
California 94025 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
I wish to thank John Keeler, Mike Fitzgerald, Karin 
Marsh, and Paul Reilly for their assistance this season. 
I would also like to thank the staff and crew of Bay 
Roe Co., Meatball Bait Distributor Inc., Ship-to-Shore 
Seafoods, and Watashi Corp. for their help and 
cooperation. 
The manuscript was reviewed by Tom JOW, Jerry Spratt, 
Fred Wendell, Tom Moore, Paul Reilly, and Ken Miller. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
ABSTRACT ........................................... 
.................................... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................. 
LIST OF FIGURES .................................... 
INTRODUCTION ....................................... 
............................................ METHODS 
............................................ RESULTS 
DISCUSSION ......................................... 
LITERATURE CITED ................................... 
Page 
i 
ii 
iii 
iv 
1 
6 
9 
14 
18 
LIST OF FIGURES 
Page 
FIGURE 1 . Location of roe-on-kelp fishery in 
California ................................ 
FIGURE 2 . The portion of a kelp blade removed by 
trimming ................................... 
FIGURE 3 . Locations of roe-on-kelp harvests in San 
Francisco Bay. California ................. 
FIGURE 4 . Roe-on-kelp landings by harvest ........... 
LIST OF TABLES 
TABLE 1 . Summary of Untrimmed Roe-on-Kelp Blade 
Measurements .............................. 
TABLE 2 . Summary of Trimmed Roe-on-Kelp Data ....... 
TABLE 3 . Roe-on-Kelp Densities by Permittee ........ 
TABLE 4 . Roe-on-Kelp Tally Summary Sheet 1988-1989 
Season .................................... 
Page 
INTRODUCTION 
Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, roe and eggs 
are served as a side dish or appetizer during the holidays, 
especially New Year's celebrations, among Japanese and 
Japanese-Americans. Two forms of herring roe or eggs are 
currently marketed: kazunoko or salted herring roe in 
skeins, and kazunoko or komochi kombu, or salted herring roe 
on seaweed. Salt is used primarily as a preservative and is 
leached out of the eggs in freshwater prior to eating. Both 
products are commonly served with soy sauce and dried, shaved 
bonito flakes (katsuo). The ex-vessel value of these 
products from California in 1987 was over 11 million dollars. 
The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) has 
management responsibility for all herring fisheries in 
California. 
One fishing method used in the herring roe on seaweed 
fishery is still experimental. During spawning, female 
herring release eggs which adhere to a wide variety of 
substrates for development (Spratt 1981). The experimental 
fishery provided substrate in the form of giant kelp 
(Macrocystis pyrifera) suspended from lines attached to 
floating rafts or pounds. This fishery, the experimental 
open pound herring roe-on-kelp (ROK) fishery, is the subject 
of the following report. 
This was the second year in which the CDFG Pacific 
Herring Research Project sampled the experimental open 
pound Pacific herring ROK fishery in San Francisco Bay, 
California (Figure 1). Moore and Reilly (1989) reported 
on the 1987-1988 season's activities. 
Considerable interest in obtaining additional 
permits for the 1988-1989 season was generated by the 
success of the ROK fishery the previous two seasons. 
Last season's landings totaled approximately 20 tons 
(Moore and Reilly 1989). On May 13, 1988 California's 
Fish and Game Commission authorized CDFG to issue up to 
four additional experimental gear permits to take herring 
ROK with the open pound method for the 1988-1989 season. 
Permittees were chosen by lottery from a pool of 
qualified applicants. To qualify, applicants must have 
possessed a San Francisco Bay herring fishery permit 
(round haul or gill net). Applicants agreed to forfeit 
all herring fishing privileges under their existing 
herring roe permits for the 1988-1989 season, if 
successful in the lottery. 
Regulations for the ROK fishery were not drafted 
before the start of the season, due to the lengthy 
legislative process involved; therefore, the fishery 
remained experimental. The primary objectives of CDFG's 
monitoring of the fishery were to determine any 
variations in ROK harvested among the permittees and to 
determine future sampling and monitoring needs necessary 
for an ongoing assessment of the fishery. 
Description of the Current Roe-on-Kelp Fishery 
Fishing and processing methods were relatively 
unchanged from the previous season (Moore and Reilly 
* 8 
C'alif'o~.rlia 
4O'N - 
Roe-0x1-Kelv Fislrery , Snn F~.ulrcisco Bay 
t 
N 
3 5  N - 
125' I Y  
1 I I 
FIGURE 1. Location of roe-on-kelp fishery in California. 
1989). Rafts were constructed of aluminum, or wood and 
plastic and used in suspending lines of attached giant 
kelp fronds. Giant kelp was harvested from the Channel 
Islands (Figure 1) and trucked to San Francisco. The 
rafts were positioned in areas where the permittees 
anticipated a herring spawn, based on constant monitoring 
of the herring school. When spawning was over, workers 
pulled up lines suspending kelp fronds and broke off kelp 
blades covered with herring eggs from the kelp stipe 
(Figure 2). 
ROK blades were placed in plastic containers (totes) 
in layers and transported to a processing facility where 
trimming of the ROK blades was performed. In trimming, 
the basal end of the kelp blade just above the 
pneumatocyst was discarded, as well as the apical tip 
(Shields et al. 1985). All trim at the harvest location 
and processing facility was returned to the water to 
allow attached eggs to hatch. , 
Trimmed ROK was placed in small plastic trays, 
drained, weighed, and later placed in totes on a bed of 
medium grained rock salt. Single layers of ROK were 
alternated with layers of salt until the tote was full. 
Totes were then filled with a 100% brine solution, 
covered with a lid and placed in cold storage. At a 
later date, the totes were shipped out of state for 
further trimming, if necessary, and sold. 
Five permits were issued for the ROK fishery this 
season. One permit was granted to the permittee from the 
Basal Trim (discarded) 
Blade 
Apical Trim (discarded) 
Pneumatocyst 
FIGURE 2. The portion of a kelp blade removed by 
trimming (Shields et al. 1985). 
previous season and four by lottery. In addition, two 
permits were issued by bid for herring roe-on-native- 
algae allotments which could be used in the experimental 
fishery. The amount of the bid was a royalty paid to 
CDFG per ton of processed product (Spratt 1981). One 
successful bidder worked with a permittee chosen by 
lottery. The same permittee chosen by lottery also bid 
successfully on an allotment of roe-on-native-algae. Two 
lottery winners, gill net permittees, also partnered. 
Herring roe quotas were converted to herring ROK 
quotas. The conversion translated a quota based on whole 
body weight to an equivalent quota based on roe weight. 
A conversion factor, 0.206, was calculated based upon 
fecundity and sex ratio data collected by CDFG (Moore and 
Reilly 1989; Reilly and Moore 1986). ROK quotas were set 
this season at 17 tons per round haul permittee and 4 
tons per gill net permittee. 
The roe-on-native algae quota was split into two 
allotments at 2.5 tons each. The total ROK quota was 64 
tons for the 1988-1989 season. 
METHODS 
Field Sampling 
Permittees were required to notify CDFG 24 h in 
advance of placing giant kelp in the pounds or of 
harvesting. Sampling of harvested ROK was conducted at 
shoreside processing facilities on Pier 45 Shed D (Figure 
3) in San Francisco. 
Each permittee's harvest was sampled in the 
processing facility. Samples consisted of at least 30 
untrimmed ROK blades randomly selected from totes prior 
to trimming by workers. Lengths and maximum widths of 
untrimmed blades were measured to the nearest millimeter. 
At least 30 trimmed blades from each permittee's harvest 
were measured to the nearest millimeter and weighed to 
the nearest 5 g. 
Rectangular samples (11.9 x 7.0 cm) were excised by 
scalpel at either 10, 20, or 30 cm from the basal end of 
an untrimmed blade covered with roe. Three samples were 
taken at each interval from nine different blades for 
each permittee's harvest. Samples were labeled and 
placed in plastic bags for further processing. 
Laboratory Procedures 
Rectangular samples were removed from plastic bags, 
dried with paper towels, and weighed to the nearest 0.01 
g on a Mettler P1200N balance. 
Net weights of product, gross weights of totes, tare 
weights of totes with lids, and the weight of salt and 
brine added were obtained from photocopies of each 
permittee's official tally sheets post season. 
The identities of the permittees were coded in 
tables. This season, unlike the previous season, there 
was more than one permittee involved in the fishery. 
FIGURE 3. Roe-on-kelp harvest locations (*) in San Francisco Bay, 
California. 
RESULTS 
ROK Statistics 
Nine of 10 ROK harvests from three spawns were 
sampled this season. The first spawn harvested was 
located in Oakland, the second in Belvedere, and the third 
in Alameda (Figure 3). One harvest was not sampled 
because the permittee failed to notify CDFG. 
Average ROK untrimmed measurements (Table 1) were 
very close to the 1987-1988 season, but average trimmed 
ROK blade lengths were slightly less than the past season 
(Table 2). Mean untrimmed ROK blade lengths were 
significantly different between spawns (Mann-Whitney U, 
alpha = 0.05). 
Roe densities varied with each spawn harvested. 
Densities ranged from light to heavy, based on criteria in 
Moore and Reilly (1989). Most of the ROK sampled 
fulfilled requirements for number 1 grade product (Shields 
et al. 1985). ROK sample data were not significantly 
different among permittees for all spawns (Table 3). Roe 
coverage was highest, for all permittees, on the second 
spawn harvested January 26-29, 1989 (Table 3). 
ROK Production 
Permittees reported landing 47.1 tons of ROK from 
open pounds for the 1988-1989 season. The total ROK quota 
was 64 tons. Landings were obtained from each permittee's 
tally sheets. Three spawns were harvested successfully by 
three of the four operations (Figure 4). 
TABLE 1. Summary of Untrimmed Roe-on-Kelp Blade Measurements. 
Harvest Mean blade Mean blade 
date Permittee n length (mm) S.D. width (mm) S.D. 
167.1 106.2 
123.0 112.0 
124.2 102.3 
No Harvest 
182.3 113.7 
94.3 112.3 
179.7 108.0 
No Harvest 
60.6 110.3 
91.3 120.6 
Not Sampled 
97.5 105.8 
Mean, 
all samples 300 592.4 142.0 110.5 13.0 
Mean, 
1987-1988 495 595.2 140.2 104.0 13.5 
TABLE 2. SUmmary o f  Mean Trimmed Roe-on-Kelp Data. 
Harvest Blade Blade Blade 
date  Permittee n length S.D. width S.D. weight S . D .  
(m) (=I ts) 
107.6 7 4 . 2  12.8 
108.6 106.8 15.4 
99.9 70.9 18.3 
No Harvest 
113.5 133.2 12.7 
106.5 130.4 12.6 
106.3 137.6 9.6 
No Harvest 
112.8 93.0 12.8 
110.8 81.6 15.7 
Not Sampled 
110.7 119.8 23.4 
Mean, 
a l l  samples 
Mean, 
1987-88 
TABLE 3 .  Roe-on-Kelp Densities (g/cm2) by Permittee. 
Harvest 
date 
-- - -- 
Permittee 
B 
0.362 0.354 No Harvest 
0.669 0.668 No Harvest 
0.250 Not Sampled 0.394 
Pounds 
60000 
0 
Oakland Belvedere Alameda 
Location of Harvest 
FIGURE 4 .  Roe-on-kelp landings by harvest. 
The fourth operation made one harvest. ROK product 
averaged 42.3% of the average gross weight of the tote. 
This average ranged from a low of 36.9% to a high of 
46.1% (Table 4). 
DISCUSSION 
Moore and Reilly (1989) reported on data collected 
during the 1987-1988. There were some differences 
between the 1987-1988 season and the 1988-1989 season. 
Three spawns were fished successfully in 1988-1989 
compared to five in 1987-1988. Spawn intensity was 
heavier for 1987-1988 harvests, as reflected by lower 
average percent product per tote this season. The quota 
in 1987-1988 was met by the permittee's last harvest 
which was also heavily trimmed for quality (Moore and Reilly 
1989). The quota this season was not met by any 
permittee. 
ROK densities were surprisingly consistent among 
permittees, considering that all but one permittee was 
new to the ROK fishery. There may have been differences 
in the quality of product (i.e. uniformity of egg layers 
on both sides of the kelp blade, presence of silt, and 
kelp blade dimensions) between permittees, but 
determining product quality was not a study objective. 
Apparently, more trimming of product took place 
this season than last. Several factors may have 
influenced this procedure. High-quality giant kelp was 
difficult for harvesters to obtain this season from the 
TABLE 4. Roe-on-Kelp Tally Sheet Summary: 1988-1989 
Herring Season. 
Total Total Net wt. Avg Avg 
Harvest Spawn # of gross wt. net wt. as % of gross/ net/ 
date location totes (lbs) (lbs) gross tote tote 
1/6/89 Oakland 7 12,516.0 4618.0 36.9 1788.0 659.7 
1/29/89 Belvedere 63 113,871.0 52,530.8 46.1 1807.5 833.8 
5 8 ,  r ~ 8 . q  
2/22/89 Alarneda 57 96,667.0 37,109.4 38.4 1695.9 651.0 
Totals 
Averages 
Channel Islands. Some samples of ROK were found in poor 
condition with tattered tips and torn blades. Winter 
storms may have limited the availability of high-quality 
kelp for open pounds in British Columbia, Canada (Shields 
et al. 1985). 
The timing involved in collecting, trucking, 
stringing kelp on pounds and intercepting a spawn is 
critical. Giant kelp suspended from rafts in San 
Francisco Bay will deteriorate in 8-10 days (Moore and 
Reilly 1989). Much of the logistical difficulty could be 
eliminated if a nearby supply of high-quality giant kelp 
was available. A permittee is exploring the feasibility 
of culturing giant kelp for use on open pounds. 
Other problems permittees experienced, during the 
1988-1989 season, were created by the environment. 
Product siltation continued to be a problem, particularly 
in south bay (Figure 3) harvests. Product condition 
reportedly ranged from a light siltiness to a noticeable 
grittiness. Some siltation could be reduced by avoiding 
spawns in known problem areas or making changes in 
technique. One change would be to shorten the lengths of 
line that kelp is strung on, to keep ROK as far away from 
the bottom as practical. 
Permittees reported oil spots on product harvested 
near Oakland. Shields et al. (1985) indicated product 
contaminated with sand, silt, or oil would generally be 
rejected by buyers in Canada. 
Strong winds, 50-60 kn, on December 15-16, 1988 
caused considerable damage to rafts moored in the south 
bay. 
Gear conflicts were reported by ROK and herring roe 
permittees. Due to the multiple fishing methods existing 
in San Francisco Bay during herring season and the manner 
in which herring spawn, the potential for conflicts 
between permittees is great. Reports of ROK permittees 
having rafts blocked by gill nets, and gill net 
permittees8 access to fishing areas restricted by rafts 
and ROK vessels, were inevitable. 
Future sampling needs will include: improving the 
precision of the estimate used in converting herring roe 
quotas to ROK quotas, and continuing to determine 
variations in ROK harvested among permittees. 
LITERATURE CITED 
Moore, T.O. and P.N. Reilly. 1989. Pacific Herring, 
Clu~ea barenuus pallasi, experimental roe-on-kelp 
open pound fishery studies in San Francisco Bay, 
December 1987 to February 1988. Calif. Dept. 
Fish and Game, Mar. Resources Admin. Rep. No. 89- 
3: 1-27. 
Reilly, P.N. and T.O. Moore. 1986. Pacific Herring, 
Clu~ea banrenaus ~allasi, studies in San 
Francisco Bay, central and northern California, 
and Washington March 1985 to May 1986. Calif. 
Dept. Fish and Game, Mar. Resources Admin. Rep. 
NO. 86-6: 1-88. 
Shields, T.L., G.S. Jamieson, and P.E. Sprout. 1985. 
Spawn-on-kelp fisheries in the Queen Charlotte Islands 
and northern British Columbia Coast- 1982 and 1983. 
Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 1372: 53 p. 
Spratt, J.D. 1981. Status of the Pacific Herring, Clu~ea 
barenaus pallasii, resource in California 1972 to 
1980. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game Fish Bull. 171: 
1-107. 


The Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, open pound roe-on-kelp experimental fishery in San Francisco Bay, 1988 to 1989

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The Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, open pound roe-on-kelp experimental fishery in San Francisco Bay, 1988 to 1989

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