The Association of Seafood Producers is giving their side of the story in their ongoing battle with the FFAW over crab prices.
President Jeff Loder addressed media about the situation earlier today.
He asserts that the ASP has negotiated in good faith, and that over the last week they sent some “serious signals” about what the starting price should be to the union that were “flat out rejected.”
He says they’re willing to set the urner barry starting price, using ASP’s formula, at $5.75, meaning a starting price of around $2.81, for a period of three weeks.
Loder says he is still open to having that conversation.
Loder stresses that they are reaching a point now where there will be negative impacts if the crab fishery doesn’t start.
He says they are already losing opportunities in the food service sector, and the Japanese market, because they want to buy crab now.
As well, he says there will be impacts on other fisheries, noting that not all of the capelin quota was caught last year, and there will be “serious losses” if the delay this year continues.
Then, Loder explains there are the impacts on plant workers.
He says last year plant workers were working long hours, processing crab at a rate of eight to 10 million pounds a week, for eight of the 14 weeks of the season. As well, he notes EI changes made by the federal government last year, stating that “these considerations have to be taken seriously at this time.”