The Seaward Enterprises Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is demanding that Premier Andrew Furey address trip limits in the snow crab fishery.

Executive Director Ryan Cleary says the inshore crab fleet already has one of the most dangerous jobs, with trip limits adding to the risk.

Trip limits were imposed last week to slow down the amount of product landed, but SEA-NL spokesperson Merv Wiseman says trip limits put pressure on enterprise owners facing the threat of lower prices, soft shell crab, weather, and the rising cost of fuel.

Wiseman calls trip limits “an accident waiting to happen.”

He says there is huge economic pressure on harvesters who have to get their catch when the processors are ready. He cited the example of a harvester he was speaking to who was told it looks like Wednesday before he will be able to recover his catch. When Wiseman asked what would happen if the weather conditions aren’t favourable, the harvester replied, “it doesn’t matter, we’re going anyway.”

SEA-NL says while trip limits have been imposed on the inshore fleet, snow crab is reportedly being trucked into the province from the Maritimes and Quebec for processing.