Squid are showing up in abundance this year but the fishery itself is in peril because of a pricing dispute between the processors and the union.

The Association of Seafood Producers says it is paying for water, which can account for about 10 per cent of the total weight. At 75 cents a pound, they say it becomes pricey water.

Executive director Derek Butler says if they buy 1000 pounds of squid, that could mean 100 pounds of water. When you get into the millions of pounds, it doesn’t make good business sense to pay for water.

Butler says harvesters are required to use slush seawater with the catch for quality reasons. However, he says the FFAW denies that there is water in the load. Processors want the union to agree to a study to determine an appropriate water reduction, and apply the findings to this year’s landings.