3L Inshore Update - March 24
March 24, 2023
March 24, 2023
Nearly 150 crab harvesters gathered at the Ramada Hotel in St. John’s this morning to discuss the current challenges facing the 3L inshore fleet.
Members were preparing to leave the Ramada to protest at DFO White Hills when an anticipated letter arrived from Minister Murray. The letter, which was promised yesterday, reinstated the protection wording for the 3L inshore fleet and committed to reviewing the amalgamation of 3L inshore and offshore areas into one assessment area prior to the 2024 season.
While this movement is positive, harvesters have been clear: the two areas must be amalgamated before the 2024 assessment season. They will accept nothing less.
The FFAW has been successful in securing a meeting for Monday morning with senior DFO managers to further discuss this situation and ensure members concerns are taken seriously by the Department. All 3L Inshore Crab Committee members will be meeting virtually on Sunday night to discuss plans for this meeting and to make plans for the remainder of the week.
In terms of price negotiations, President Greg Pretty explained to members today that the negotiations schedule is provincially legislated and if negotiations do not continue, final offers must be submitted by next Friday, March 31, 2023. Should the Union not participate in negotiations, ASP’s offer will be selected by default. This would be critically detrimental to our members, and certainly not in harvesters’ best interests.
However, both Pretty and Spingle have been clear that the FFAW will continuing supporting the 3L fleet in this issue and will continue pressing DFO until satisfactorily resolved for members.