SEA-NL is calling for the elimination of the provincial government’s final offer fish pricing system in favour of direct negotiations between the union and processors until contracts are hammered out that both sides respect.

SEA-NL Executive Director Ryan Cleary says there is no point in government being involved in negotiating the price of fish when its appointed panel does not have the power to enforce one price or another.

Some fisheries have been off to a slow start, or have ground to a halt as either harvesters or processors have balked at the price set by the Fish Price Setting Panel.

Cleary says government must move immediately or a number of fisheries will not happen this year, which will be devastating to the inshore fleet and rural communities.