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MEDIA RELASE: FFAW Responds to ASP Letter to Premier on Snow Crab and Buyers’ Licences

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) is responding to an open letter issued by the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) that contains a number of inaccurate and misleading
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MEDIA RELEASE: FFAW Snow Crab Negotiating Working Group Halts Price Talks Pending Minister’s Management Plan 

ST. JOHN’S, NL – This morning, the FFAW Snow Crab Negotiating Working Group met and voted unanimously to not begin crab price negotiations until Minister Thompson releases her decision on 2026 crab quotas and
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Positive Outlook for Capelin in Latest Stock Assessment, But DFO Forecasts Continue to Miss the Mark

FFAW-Unifor is encouraged by the positive outlook for 2J3KL capelin coming out of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ latest stock assessment, with favourable environmental conditions, more capelin showing up in the
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FFAW-Unifor

FFAW-Unifor

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

4 days ago

FFAW-Unifor
🔴🦀MEDIA RELEASE: FFAW Snow Crab Negotiating Working Group Halts Price Talks Pending Minister’s Management Plan March 21, 2026 ST. JOHN’S, NL - This morning, the FFAW Snow Crab Negotiating Working Group met and voted unanimously to not begin crab price negotiations until Minister Thompson releases her decision on 2026 crab quotas and opening dates are set. This approach will allow crab fisheries in the Gulf and Maritimes to open first, giving the market a chance to stabilize before Newfoundland and Labrador negotiations proceed. It also provides companies additional time to settle outstanding payments owed to harvesters from the 2025 season. “Holding off on negotiations at this time is the most responsible course of action,” says FFAW President Dwan Street. “Having clarity on the 2026 management plan and seeing how the Gulf snow crab fishery performs will give harvesters a much clearer sense of where prices need to be this season,” Street explains. The Committee remains committed to achieving a fair and transparent price-setting process for the 2026 crab fishery and will reconvene once quota and opening information is available. ... See MoreSee Less
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1 week ago

FFAW-Unifor
📣 PFHCB SEEKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTORThe Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board (PFHCB) is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization in its continued implementation and advancement of the professionalization and certification program for fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador.Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@pfhcb.com.See the job ad attached: ... See MoreSee Less
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1 week ago

FFAW-Unifor
📣 DFO Updates Licence Conditions for Lost and Retrieved Fishing GearFisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has recently made changes to conditions of licence related to lost and retrieved fishing gear.These updates include further clarification around what constitutes “lost gear,” as well as a change to reporting requirements. Harvesters using electronic e-logs will no longer be able to report lost gear through the e-log system and will instead continue reporting through the Fishing Gear Reporting System (FGRS).Additional details are included in the attached materials. ... See MoreSee Less
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1 week ago

FFAW-Unifor
📣 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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Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.