“The clock is ticking.”

That’s the assertion of both the FFAW and the Association of Seafood Producers, whose contract talks have come to a screeching halt due to tariffs from the United States.

Both FFAW President Dwan Street and ASP Executive Director Jeff Loder make no bones about the seriousness of the situation, noting that they have both requested that the snowcrab season begins on March 15th.

Loder says discussions around income and other supports that could be put in place if a fishery cannot happen are not the conversations that need to be happening right now.

Both parties have requested a fisheries-only roundtable discussion with federal and provincial senior officials to get a better understanding of the situation.

As Loder explains, that is important considering no price agreements have been set yet for snowcrab this season.

“We cannot, as it stands right now, sign a contract….without a much more clear understanding of the risk profile,” says Loder, who notes that they are looking forward to having conversations and trying to find solutions to such complex issues.

Street stresses that time is of the essence and that those conversations need to start happening immediately. She says they will keep membership appraised of what plans are coming out of those talks.