FFAW asks panel to review of crab prices
No specific price suggested in union request
The Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) has submitted a request for reconsideration of snow crab prices to the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel for Newfoundland and Labrador
In a post on its Facebook page Wednesday, the FFAW said the panel has 96 hours to make a decision to either establish a new price, or maintain the current price of $5.73 per pound.
If the panel decides to set a new price, that price would come into effect April 25.
“We will provide updates over the next few days as the reconsideration moves forward,” the union said in its Facebook post. “We would like to thank members for providing supporting documents and for your patience throughout the process.”
Crab fishers in Newfoundland and Labrador have questioned the apparent gap in snow crab prices from province to province in Atlantic Canada.
They’ve been relentless on social media, sharing information that suggests snow crab fishers in the Maritime provinces have been getting $8 to $9 per pound for crab.
And now they’re wondering why the FFAW is not providing any details on a price increase the union is suggesting to the panel.
When Saltwire posed that question to the union, a spokesperson replied, “There are not many other details to provide.
“No price has been requested yet, just the request to reopen talks. We have the materials we need and have formally started the reconsideration process. As soon as the panel responds, we will endeavor to continue to update (our members).”
Meanwhile, many of the Newfoundland and Labrador fleets have already started fishing crab, and in at least one fishing zone — 3Ps on the south coast — the crab quota will soon be caught.
If there is an increase in prices after April 25, processors are not obliged to make retroactive payments for crab caught before the price change.