2026 Cod Price Agreement Reached
May 6, 2026
FFAW-Unifor has reached an agreement with ASP on cod pricing for the 2026 season, securing the highest price for cod to date.
The agreed 2026 cod prices are:
This is an increase of over 30% from 2025 to 2026 for Grade A.
The price for Grade B has been 40 cents since the implementation of the grading program in 2014. We heard from harvesters that this was no longeracceptable given the rise in the price of Grade A fish, and while nobody questions the importance of landing quality cod, the gap between A and B had become unacceptable. Seeing upward movement in the price of Grade B was a priority for negotiations this year, and we were able to realize a gain of 12.5 cents.
For 2026 only, there will be a 1% ice and water deduction, pending agreement from DFO. Any deduction in future years would be based on a study conducted by both sides of industry. This deduction would work similarly to the ice and water deduction for capelin, which is taken off at the wharf and noted on your receipt (i.e., it is not deducted from the quota).
The agreement also includes language for harvesters in DFO-approved buddy-up arrangements. Where two harvesters are in an approved buddy-up, the number of samples taken from a trip will follow the sampling plan outlined in the Cod Quality Grading Sample Collection Protocol. For example, if 3,500 lbs is landed in a trip, 15 samples will be taken, and the grade on that sample will apply to the full trip.
This agreement sets a new benchmark for cod pricing and reflects the continued push for fair value for inshore harvesters.
A very big thank you to the harvesters who volunteered their time and knowledge to negotiations this year. The 2026 committee members are: Alton Rumbolt, Robert Traverse, Glen Newbury, Lee Melindy, Steve Ryan, Rodney Mercer, Glen Winslow, Kenny Viscount, Dwan Street, Sherry Glynn, Onye Oluoha, Julian Ryan, Crystal Lynn Gorman, and Miranda Butler.