ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) is pushing back against the price of snow crab set April 4.
“Today the Fish Price Setting Panel announced their decision to side with the proposal put forward by the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) to set this year’s Snow Crab Price at $4.55,” read a release issued Wednesday. “The panel’s decision is very disappointing to fish harvesters as it ignores the fact that the market is significantly better than in 2017 and is based upon an ASP submission that lacked evidence, fact and argument.”
The group argued that in the past higher prices have helped offset falling quotas, quotas which are expected to drop again this year for many seafood products, including snow crab. FFAW-Unifor says it has presented evidence that the market can support a price of $4.80 per pound and above for harvesters.
“This decision is frustrating for fish harvesters who will see another reduction in their quota for 2018,” said Keith Sullivan, president of FFAW-Unifor, in the release. “Compounding this frustration is the fact that harvesters in the Maritimes are receiving greater than $5 per pound for snow crab.”
