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FFAW Calls for Minister to Scrap PA in 2026 Management as DFO Assessment Signals More Pain for 3K, 2J and 3Ps Harvesters

February 24, 2026 / Media Releases

February 24, 2026 ST. JOHN’S, NL – Today’s technical briefing from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Science Department has left harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador demanding a complete

PROVINCE DELIVERS ON DEMAND FOR COMPETITION AND FAIRNESS

February 20, 2026 / Media Releases

ST. JOHN’S, NL – FFAW-Unifor is welcoming a major provincial step toward restoring competition and fairness in Newfoundland and Labrador’s fish processing sector. Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Loyola O’Driscoll

MEETING UPDATE FEB 16

February 16, 2026 / Media Releases, Member Updates

Today’s meeting with the provincial government went well and we are awaiting written confirmation of expectations going forward. We expect this to be received tomorrow, and we will communicate the

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FFAW-Unifor

14,000 working Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - a history steeped in the fishing industry.

FFAW-Unifor

1 day ago

🌸 Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at FFAW! 🌸Today, March 8, 2026, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of women everywhere—especially the women in our Union who work tirelessly on the water, in processing plants, and in many other workplaces to keep our industries and communities thriving. From hauling traps to advocating for fair treatment, women continue to shape the future of our fishery and our coastal communities.Today, women serve in elected roles across all sectors of our Union, and our Women’s Committee continues to play an important role in strengthening engagement and leadership. In November 2024, the Women’s Committee was constitutionally enshrined, ensuring the program remains a priority for our Union into the future.Women belong in the fishery, in our plants and in our workplaces. They belong in our Union. Women are leaders in their own right and bring important perspectives and ideas that help strengthen our Union and our industry. Women make our Union strong! Share your stories of the amazing women in your life below! ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

2 days ago

📣 3K4 virtual Fleet MeetingOn Sunday, March 8th at 6:00pm, FFAW-Unifor will be holding a virtual meeting for 3k4 members. 3K Member Representative Julian Ryan will be in touch with members shortly with more information. For more information, call Julian at (709) 732-2515. ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

4 days ago

📣🦐 SHRIMP PRICE NEGOTIATED FOR SPRING 2026The shrimp negotiating committee is pleased to announce that an agreement was reached this afternoon with the Association of Seafood Producers on the price of shrimp for spring 2026.The average price will be $1.80/lb, up from $1.65/lb last spring.The $1.80/lb is for landed to the plant and landed in St. Anthony or Port au Choix, and $1.72/lb trucked from elsewhere on the island.Thank you to the shrimp negotiating committee for their participation and commitment during negotiations: harvesters Chris Gould, Boyd Lavers, Chris Rose, and Nelson Bussey, and FFAW executive and staff Dwan Street, Brian Miller, Sherry Glynn, and Onye Oluoha. ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

4 days ago

📣 Union Forum Magazine Moving to Opt-In Format FFAW-Unifor is modernizing how we communicate with members. The Union Forum magazine will move to an “opt-in” distribution model and shift to two issues per year.In the past, the magazine was one of our main ways to reach members. Today, we provide near real-time updates through Facebook, email lists tailored by area and species, text messages, and a redesigned website with meeting notices, fish prices, and member resources.These tools allow us to reach members faster and more effectively than ever. As a result, the role of the Union Forum has changed.Going forward, the magazine will be published twice annually in a Summer and Winter edition. The magazine will remain available online, and members who enjoy receiving a paper copy can still opt in. This change helps reduce the significant costs of printing and postage while maintaining access for those who want it.To continue to receive a copy of the Union Forum going forward, please complete the opt-in process at ffaw.ca/optin or call the FFAW-Unifor office at (709) 576-7276 to have your opt-in recorded. ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

4 days ago

🔴 Post-Season Survey Demonstrates Groundfish Predation Concentrated in Offshore 2J3KOnboard observers and technicians recorded the presence of groundfish in crab pots during the post-season CPS survey in 2025. As expected, groundfish are not distributed evenly throughout the survey area but are concentrated in the offshore portions of 3K and 2J.Harvesters flagged this issue because there are fewer crab in pots and at stations with groundfish, not surprisingly. The concern is that increased numbers of groundfish in pots will contribute to underestimation of crab biomass. In fact, in their inshore survey, DFO considers a pot with a groundfish in it “unsuccessful” and does not include information from that pot in their survey. We need to understand how groundfish are affecting estimates of snow crab biomass because impacts will not be the same throughout the stock area.Groundfish were present in 24% of small mesh pots in 3K4, compared to less than 1% of small mesh pots in 3K inshore. Similarly, groundfish were found in small mesh pots in 25% of offshore 2J stations, versus 3% inshore 2J stations.Groundfish were less common in 3Ps, occurring in only 9% of all small mesh pots (5% inshore and 12% offshore). Groundfish were rare in pots in 3LNO and 4R, occurring in only 4 and 5% of small mesh pots in those assessment divisions overall.These data were presented at the 2026 assessment.It is clear that groundfish predation impacts are uneven across the stock area. Old news to 2J and 3K offshore harvesters seeing increased numbers of cod and skate in their crab pots during the spring fishery and fall survey.Questions remain regarding how these predators affect trap survey indices of crab biomass and recruitment. We continue to work on the unanswered questions from the 2026 assessment.Crab harvesters from 3K and 2J and the FFAW continue to press DFO Science and Resource Management to address criticisms and acknowledge on-the-water observations of a rapidly but unevenly changing marine environment. This means, as a start, to consider the status of inshore and offshore 3K CMAs separately, given the very different predator and catch rate profiles. ... See MoreSee Less

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