CRAB REBATE UPDATE
We know the impatience with this crab rebate process is past the boiling point. We’re hearing it every minute of every day. The money that should be in your pockets
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YOUNG HARVESTERS COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS OPEN
Dec. 2025 to Dec. 2028 Term The nomination process is now open for the FFAW’s Young Harvester Committee. The Young Harvesters Committee is a space for harvesters around the province
UPDATE ON CRAB FINAL PAYOUT
In April, FFAW won the Panel decision on crab, but now ASP is attempting to draw the union into an arbitration which would see rebate payments delayed to harvesters, allowing
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14,000 working Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - a history steeped in the fishing industry.
As everyone gets ready for the arrival of St. Nick I would like to take the time to wish all of our FFAW members near and far a Merry Christmas.![]()
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There is no doubt this year has brought its challenges but let us not forget the gains and the wins, the changes and the steps forward.![]()
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Thank you to each and every one of you for patience, support and solidarity.![]()
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Thank you to our many Council, Committee and Board members who put their time and hearts into bettering the lives of others.![]()
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Thank you to our amazing staff for all they do. I have never seen such an amazing team assembled and always pulling on the same oar.![]()
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Thank you, everyone. Remember - you are the Union. I hope you are able to enjoy the holidays. Please stay safe, do not drink and drive, and let's make 2026 our best year yet.![]()
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FFAW-Unifor
🎄 Merry Christmas to all FFAW-Unifor Members![]()
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There is no doubt 2025 was a year of great gains and equally great challenges for our members in all fields. As 2026 approaches, with many more challenges in front of us, we renew our commitment to fight hard for our members no matter where they live or work. From those working on the water and on the plant floors to those in fabrication, hospitality, brewing, and beyond—your work keeps our communities strong. On behalf of all FFAW Leadership and Staff, we wish you a safe, restful holiday and all the best in the year ahead.
📣 UPDATE ON THE CRAB REBATE![]()
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This afternoon we met with Deloitte to get a status update on the calculation of the rebate and a timeline for release of the rebate amount.![]()
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By focusing on the release of the rebate based on 30 lb bulk packs, the rebate amount will be released in the latter part of the week of January 5th, most likely January 8th or 9th. We’re not happy with this, the money should be paid out by now, but we did learn some important information from this afternoon’s call:![]()
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All 15 processors have provided all information that has been requested by Deloitte. The 15 processors are:![]()
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- 3Ts Limited![]()
- Aqua Crab Producers Inc.![]()
- Barry Group Inc.![]()
- Beothic Fish Processors Limited![]()
- Fogo Island Co-Operative Society Ltd.![]()
- Golden Shell Fisheries (2014) Limited![]()
- Green Seafoods Ltd.![]()
- Happy Adventure Sea Products (1991) Ltd.![]()
- Independent Fish Harvesters Inc.![]()
- Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Co.![]()
- Notre Dame Seafoods![]()
- Ocean Choice International![]()
- Quinlan Brothers Ltd.![]()
- Quin-Sea Fisheries Ltd.![]()
- St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries![]()
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Since we’re using all sales of 5-8 oz sections this year (a change from FOB Boston last year), the number of invoices is much greater than what was included in last year’s analysis. Details for a total of 2,687 individual invoices were collected (1,678 related to bulk 30 lb boxes and 1,009 related to other pack sizes), which covers approximately 50.1M in total volume (46.2M related to bulk and 3.9M related to other).![]()
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For validation of sales records, Deloitte requested and received 150 detailed invoices from the 15 companies (ten invoices per company).![]()
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Deloitte reported that companies have been very responsive, providing the requested documentation in a timely manner.![]()
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The rebate amount will be released in a meeting with us, ASP, and Deloitte and documented in a brief report. We will immediately pass that information along to the membership.![]()
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Following that release, there will be second meeting with Deloitte where we will have the opportunity to ask questions about the process and their findings.![]()
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We appreciate members taking the time to raise their concerns and stay engaged on this issue. We share the frustration with these timelines and will be working over the winter to ensure these loopholes and delays cannot happen again. Updates will be released to membership as soon as they become available to us.
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Nearly five decades later, the people of the fishing society are still proving them wrong. Learn more about the storied social, economic, and political past of FFAW in Newfoundland & Labrador.
📣 MEETING WITH MINISTER O'DRISCOLL ![]()
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On Wednesday afternoon we met with Loyola O’Driscoll, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.![]()
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It was not a photo-op or a box-ticking exercise. We went there with a purpose, and that was to deliver a clear message to the Minister. While his predecessors created this current lack of competition and this stranglehold processors have over our multi-billion-dollar industry, it’s now in his hands to make a change for the better.![]()
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We laid out the solution, and it’s not complicated: issue more processing licenses and hold current license holders accountable.![]()
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A step was made in the right direction with buyers' licenses under the Furey Government, but the very thing that was put in place to introduce competition actually stifled it. NL processors acquired those licenses and used them to ship unprocessed crab to the Maritimes in exchange for processors in those provinces staying out of NL. Any progress that was being made on this issue was quickly undone when the Hogan government came in and reversed course almost immediately. ![]()
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Harvesters in this province will never get a fair price for their product with just five large suppliers controlling the market. NL is the largest producer of snow crab in the world; the supply is controlled by five very large companies, and those companies are protected by provincial policies that severely restrict new entrants. This has to change.![]()
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Obviously, a significant amount of time was spent talking about the crab rebate and the pricing structure in place this year. We made it clear that this structure can work, but only if processors are held accountable. They’re operating under a set of government rules that restrict competition. Until that is rectified, they need to have a level of accountability beyond what would be expected in a free-market system.![]()
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We showed the Minister the attached graph from Urner Barry of NL and Gulf 5-8 oz sections in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Each year, the gap between the two indices widens, going from almost a complete overlap (i.e., no difference in the NL and Gulf market prices) in 2022 to the wide gap you see this year (the light pink and purple lines).![]()
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The mess in the lap of the Minister O’Driscoll wasn’t made by him or this current administration, but it can start to be fixed by them. They owe it to the fish harvesters, plant workers, and other voters in rural areas across the province who put this government into power. Minister O’Driscoll heard our message and committed to be readily available going forward to meet and help put this industry on the right track.
