Petition to List Lynn Canal Pacific Herring under the Endangered ...

Figure 3: Pacific Herring populations in the eastern North Pacific Ocean (Figure from Hay et al. 2001b).
These populations comprise the subspecies C. p. mirabilis referenced in Grant and Utter (1984).
2. Southeast Alaska
In Southeast Alaska, at least five major herring populations are presently identifiable
based on Skud (1959) (See Figure 4). Carlson (1980) concluded that five major stocks are
defined by their concentration on certain wintering grounds: “(1) Sitka; (2) Auke Bay; (3) Craig-
Hydaburg; (4) Deer Island-Etolin Island (near Wrangell); and (5) Ketchikan stocks.”
The “Auke Bay” stock referred to by Carlson (1980) is synonymous with “Lynn Canal
Herring” subject to this petition.
3. Lynn Canal Herring
Lynn Canal Herring are confined to the waters of Lynn Canal, Berners Bay, Auke Bay,
northern Stephens Passage and portions of Icy Strait (See Figures 4 and 5). Lynn Canal is a 90
mile long inlet east of Glacier Bay and north of Juneau. Its northern terminus is near the town of
Skagway and the southern end extends to Admiralty Island and northern Stephens Passage.
Berners Bay and Auke Bay are on the eastern side of Lynn Canal and are of particular
importance to herring.
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