The FFAW is responding to an open letter by the Association of Seafood Producers, which was sent to Premier Tony Wakeham earlier this week.

The ASP is asking questions about a Liberal policy whereby FFAW members can catch crab and sell it to buyers from outside the province. They also accuse the union of refusing to participate in the legislated collective bargaining process for price setting.

The FFAW says claims by ASP that harvesters are “refusing to fish” are incorrect, and they are seeking a fair price based on what they say would be “improvements” to a process that they argue has “increasingly failed to deliver fair and balanced outcomes.”

They say claims that they intend to move large amounts of crab out of the province are also false, and that harvesters exploring market options reflects a lack of competition in the current system.

The industry is required to have a price for snow crab set by April 6th through the collective bargaining process.

The province says the process is set by the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act.

When the two parties are unable to reach an agreement, the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel is responsible for setting the minimum price and conditions of sale.

The provincial government says a hearing with the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel is scheduled for Monday and it is encouraging both parties to participate.