NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR COMMUNITIES ROBBED OVER $100 MILLION DOLLARS; ASP CARTEL WILL BE STOPPED 

ST. JOHN’S, NL – With this afternoon’s news of a $0.28 snow crab rebate, fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are calling for immediate justice and change. 

“The rebate announced today is truly a gut-punch to our coastal communities. The rebate result goes far beyond a simple disagreement in price; we are now facing a reckoning in our industry,” warns FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. “The provincial government has let this behaviour go on far too long and, in the past, our Union has shown compliance when it should have shown force. Mark my words, this is not a decision that will be accepted.”

The Union is demanding immediate and drastic action from provincial and federal governments as ASP companies continue to manipulate the market in order to shortchange prices paid to NL fish harvesters. Companies did not want this formula to work and through undercutting competitors in other provinces and keeping the market depressed, the rebate amount to harvesters is low. Companies were so desperate to kill the formula, they were willing to take a loss this year to ensure it happened.

“ASP companies are manipulating the market and skewing the true end of season price. The provincial government must intervene swiftly and with decisive action. Our fishery has become the mockery of Atlantic Canada and the time for change is long overdue,” Street says. 

“Over $100 million dollars has been stolen from our coastal communities and local economy. Nothing about this result is fair or acceptable, and it’s time for our new provincial government to take the swift action needed to address the root of the issue; which is corporate control and transparency in fish prices,” says FFAW-Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Jamie Baker. 

“We cannot allow this decision to turn harvesters against one another. It’s crucial that we as fish harvesters look to the true source of the problem, which is ASP and their member companies. We need to direct our frustration to the right place to make permanent change in our industry. We are over 10,000 strong and we can, and we will, make our voices heard loud and clear,” says John Efford, FFAW Snow Crab Negotiating Committee member and Inshore Council representative for Harbour Grace to Portugal Cove North. 

Street is appealing to members to direct their frustration to the companies who have put you in this situation. The Negotiating Committee has been dedicated to improving fairness, while these companies collude on prices in an effort to hurt fish harvesters. Without true systemic change the corruption by unethical companies will continue. 

“We will be allowing the provincial government a very short window of opportunity to take action, and should the result not be satisfactory, we will be boots on the ground as soon as this week,” Street concludes. 

Robin Quinlan (Quinlan Brothers) 709-682-4472

Kim Quinlan (Quinlan Brothers) 709-685-2656

Blaine Sullivan (OCI) 709-687-4344

Andy Sullivan (OCI) 709-687-5335

Scott Boland (Beothic) 709-536-7766

Paul Grant (Beothic) 709-682-6453

Bill Barry (Barry Group) 709-640-1219

Chis Pilgrim (Barry Group) 709-468-6134 

Todd Young (3Ts) 709-458-7012

Terry Daley (St. Mary’s Bay Fisheries) 709-687-2979

Surrendra Botlagunta (Royal Greenland) 709-697-2244

Gilbert Linstead (LFUSC) 709-927-5816

Greg Eveleigh (Notre Dame Seafoods) 709-541-5797

Rod Butt (Golden Shell Fisheries) 709-425-0380

Jennifer Green (Green Seafoods) 709-685-2695

Steadman Letto (Royal Greenland) 709-456-6275