The fisheries union is accusing some companies of stooping to unscrupulous means in order to keep crab prices low.

The provincial government has opened up the market to allow harvesters to form their own companies to, essentially, buy from themselves, and to sell product directly to buyers outside Newfoundland and Labrador.

However, FFAW President Dwan Street says reliable information they have collected shows that members of the Association of Seafood Producers are shipping unprocessed crab to the Maritimes to help make up a large cut in the quota.

That reduces competition and, therefore, keeps prices low.

Calling it collusion, Street wants government to step in and investigate.

Street says companies here are shipping the product in return for a promise that outside companies will stay out of NL so that prices can be suppressed.

Street adds that workers are getting far less work this year than last because of it.