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

March 25, 2026 / Media Releases

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

MEDIA RELEASE: FFAW Snow Crab Negotiating Working Group Halts Price Talks Pending Minister’s Management Plan

March 21, 2026 / Media Releases, Member Updates

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

Positive Outlook for Capelin in Latest Stock Assessment, But DFO Forecasts Continue to Miss the Mark

March 11, 2026 / Media Releases

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

FFAW-Unifor

2 days ago

📣 UPDATE:Premier Wakeham has just reached out. Tomorrow's Panel hearing has been delayed. We will continue to update membership as we go forward.There will be no protest tomorrow. We are proceeding with next steps. ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

2 days ago

📣 UPDATE: PROTEST CANCELLED SEE LATEST UPDATE Earlier today, FFAW-Unifor received a call from Premier Tony Wakeham advising that he is now personally involved in efforts to find a solution to the ongoing snow crab price-setting crisis.Following a call this afternoon with the Inshore Council, the Crab Negotiating Committee, and crab committee chairs, harvesters are calling for a demonstration at Confederation Building tomorrow morning.Whether this becomes a show of support for a government that stands behind fish harvesters, plant workers, and coastal communities or a protest against yet another government unwilling to make the necessary changes is now in the hands of the Premier.Official union positions and updates will continue to be communicated through this page. ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

3 days ago

Members,We have been meeting with government for months on the problems with snow crab negotiations, the inefficiency of the Panel and why we cannot proceed down that road. We have presented multiple options, based in legal advice, to remove crab from Final Offer Selection.We have yet to see concrete action.Now it’s time WE take action. The Panel cannot remain and certainly cannot proceed on Monday, in any instance.See you on the Hill on Monday. ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

4 days ago

🔴 Crab Management Plan Released for 2026Today, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans released the 2026 management plan for snow crab. While some fleets will see notable reductions, the overall allocations are more moderate than what was initially projected under the current Precautionary Approach (PA) framework.“While we remain concerned with cuts in several areas, the final decision is more conservative than what was being proposed through the PA,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. “That reflects the need to ensure decisions are grounded in input from harvesters.”FFAW welcomes the Minister’s commitment to undertake an immediate review of the snow crab Precautionary Approach, including identifying ways to enhance Total Allowable Catch levels over time and reduce year-to-year instability.“Minister Thompson has been continually engaged with crab harvesters over the last days, weeks, and months, and that engagement is reflected in the final allocations,” says Street. “We extend our thanks to the Minister for a balanced management plan, while recognizing there is more work to be done to address the flaws of the current precautionary approach framework.” ... See MoreSee Less

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FFAW-Unifor

6 days ago

🔴 MEDIA RELEASE: FFAW Responds to ASP Letter to Premier on Snow Crab and Buyers’ LicencesThe 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 claims about harvesters, the snow crab fishery, and the use of buyers’ licences in Newfoundland and Labrador.“ASP’s assertion that harvesters are refusing to fish is incorrect. Harvesters are prepared to fish but are seeking a fair and reasonable price through improvements to a process that has increasingly failed to deliver fair and balanced outcomes,” says FFAW President Dwan Street. “The ongoing delay in the fishery is the result of unresolved pricing issues and the need for clarity on 2026 quotas and export markets. This information is expected to be available in the coming days which will allow the negotiations process to begin. The Union is not promoting a delay or stoppage of the snow crab fishery in any way,” Street explains.Claims that FFAW intends to move large volumes of crab out of province at the expense of plant workers are also false. Harvesters exploring market options reflects a lack of competition in the current system, where access to processing is increasingly concentrated among a small number of companies who artificially suppress NL prices.“Last year, the previous Executive Director of ASP was overheard gloating with company management over the amount of crab processors were shipping out of the province. All at the expense of the people working their plants, ASP’s current PR campaign is a false reflection of their true morals and values,” Street says.While the FFAW is still waiting for provincial clarification on just how much crab companies shipped out in 2025, provincial changes to processing licences will prevent ASP companies from shipping out any unprocessed product in 2026.“Fish harvesters have dealt with a deteriorating snow crab pricing process over the last number of years. Rather than choose fairness and transparency, ASP and their member companies have repeatedly threatened and blacklisted harvesters who try to speak out or sell elsewhere,” Street says.A competitive marketplace is essential to ensuring fair returns to harvesters and long-term stability in the fishery. Limiting access to alternative buyers serves to reinforce the very challenges that continue to impact negotiations year after year.“We know members are concerned, and we want you to know that our goal is to still start the snow crab fishery on time. The FFAW remains committed to a strong, sustainable fishery that supports both harvesters and plant workers. However, stability in the industry must be built on fair pricing, transparency, and a bargaining process that all fish harvesters can have confidence in,” Street concludes. ... See MoreSee Less

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