Snow Crab Pricing Update

Following discussions between FFAW-Unifor and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP), the parties have reached an uneasy agreement to resolve the current dispute and allow the snow crab fishery to move forward. While the situation has been difficult, this agreement provides a path to getting the fishery underway while allowing prices to adjust with market conditions as the season progresses.

Under the agreement, harvesters will be paid $6.00 per pound for crab landed up to and including Saturday, April 18. This provides an immediate starting price as vessels begin fishing.

From Sunday, April 19, until Urner Barry (UB) begins quoting the market, harvesters will be paid $5.75 per pound. Once Urner Barry begins quoting, the market price will determine the harvester price using the agreed pricing structure. If the Urner Barry market quote results in a price higher than $5.75 per pound, harvesters will be paid retroactively for the difference on any landings made during that period.

Once Urner Barry begins quoting, the pricing table attached below will apply. The price to harvesters will follow the structure outlined in that table, which is tied directly to Urner Barry market quotes. Currency adjustments will be applied based on the week of landing, while accounting for the base currency that was used when developing the table.

The price to harvesters will be posted each week by Monday at noon following the week of landing at: https://ffaw.ca/inshore/fish-prices/

This agreement differs from the Panel decision in several important ways. There is no floor price under this arrangement, meaning the price to harvesters will adjust with the market during the fishing season. There is also no holdback or post-season adjustment. Instead, prices throughout the season will rely on Urner Barry market quotes rather than processor receipts at the end of the year.

It is also important to recognize that harvesters in 2J and 3K continue to face severe ice conditions, and the fishery in those areas is still weeks away from beginning. Maintaining stability in the market now is particularly important for those harvesters who will not be able to access the fishery until much later in the season.

The pricing structure for the 2026 snow crab fishing season shall be as follows:

In advance of the first UB quote (UB Crab, Snow, Cluster, Newfoundland, 5-8 oz, low), the price to harvesters will be $6.00/lb for >4” carapace from April 12, 2026 to April 18, 2026.

Effective April 19, 2026, 12:00AM NDT, the price paid to harvesters will be $5.75/lb for >4” carapace, until such time that the first UB quote of NL 5-8oz sections low issued.

From the point of the first UB NL 5-8oz low quote is issued, the price to harvesters will be based on the interval table above, using the weekly average of the Tuesday and Thursday UB NL 5-8oz low quote and the currency provision as outlined in Appendix A.

During the time period prior to the first UB quote, should the initial UB NL 5-8oz low quote create a higher price to harvesters than $5.75/lb, processors will rebate harvesters the price difference for the period prior to the quote.

Should the initial UB NL 5-8oz low quote create a lower price to harvesters than the $5.75/lb, harvesters will retain the $5.75/lb for that time period, and no deduction will be applied.

All other terms and conditions as per the 2025 crab schedule, including the 20% tolerance for <4” crab, remain in place.