The FFAW has rejected the latest offer made by the Association of Seafood Producers, saying “the majority of harvesters oppose the proposal.”
On Friday, the ASP presented a new offer to the union, brokered with the help of the provincial government in an attempt to get the lucrative fishery going. The new offer included a minimum price of $2.20 a pound, with the ability for higher reconsiderations if markets improve.
The proposal includes trip limits and an overage fund, something that harvesters flatly refused.
The FFAW says the crab is staying in the water until harvesters get a higher share of the price. A union release issued Saturday evening indicates that union leadership are adamantly against an overage fund of any kind. Harvesters are also demanding more clarification on trip limits and “will not agree to uneconomical or unfair limits.”
Most importantly, according to the FFAW, is that the union will not agree to a fishery unless processing companies agree not to bring in outside crab while NL harvesters are on any sort of limits or scheduling.
There are rumours that outside companies are offering NL harvesters $2.90 a pound, and the union says it will continue to explore outside sale options. Calling it a “crisis of epic proportions” the FFAW is encouraging harvesters to remain united in their objective.