The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) is giving their side of the story in their ongoing battle with the FFAW over crab prices.

ASP executive director Jeff Loder addressed media about the situation on Thursday.

He asserts that fish companies negotiated in good faith, and that over the last week they sent some “serious signals” about what the starting price should be. However, he says the union “flat-out rejected” them.

Loder says the association was willing to set the starting price at roughly $2.80, for a period of three weeks, adding ASP is still open to having that conversation.

But he says time is running out and there will once again be negative repercussions for the snow crab season if a compromise isn’t reached soon.

Loder says opportunities are already being lost in the food-service sector, as well as the Japanese market, which wants to buy crab now.

Further delays could also affect other species, he said, noting not all of the capelin quota was caught last year.

Then there’s the impact on plant workers.

“Last year was a very difficult year for them, working very long hours and processing eight to 10 million pounds of crab a week for eight of the 14 weeks of the season,” said Loder. “That’s unfair and not good for our industry.”

He points to increased EI requirements imposed by Ottawa for this year, something the FFAW has also been pushing back against.

“These considerations have to be taken seriously at this time,” he said.