Thousands of jobs in an industry estimated to be worth a billion dollars to Newfoundland and Labrador are in danger of going down the tubes unless crab harvesters soon take to the water. But the union says, no dice—it’s not happening.
The fishery was to have begun on April 10, but harvesters say they can’t make a buck at the $2.20 price while buyers say they can’t make money at the union’s suggested price of $3.50.
The market, mainly the United States, has dwindled from an all-time high a couple of years ago according to the Association of Seafood Producers. Worse, the price of crab has dropped by about another dollar per pound just in the past few weeks.
ASP Executive Director Jeff Loder
Executive director Jeff Loder can’t understand why they can fish or $2.25 per pound in Quebec, but not here. They need raw material for their plants.
He says they’re prepared to buy it for $2.20 but with no raw material, they cannot maintain operations.
FFAW President Greg Pretty
FFAW President Greg Pretty says they will not be intimated by the fish merchants.
He says harvesters would rather go bankrupt at the wharf than supply processors with cheap crab.
Loder is adamant that if there is no crab fishery now, there won’t be one this year at all.
