FFAW-Unifor Sea Cucumber Negotiating Committee Meeting Update

July 20, 2021 – The FFAW-Unifor Sea Cucumber Negotiating Committee met tonight, July 20th, to discuss updates in the current dispute over ASP’s sampling, handling and grading protocols for the 2021 season.

Some key points include:

• A letter has been sent to senior DFO management requesting urgent clarification that harvesters with temporary permits will maintain those permits even if they do not meet their landing threshold due to the ongoing price dispute, which we understand is a major concern. FFAW will follow up tomorrow and continue to stress the importance of this clarification;
• Discussion has been ongoing with ASP and a request has been submitted to meet with the buyers to resolve the current ongoing issues. We would expect ASP members who depend upon harvesters to meet and discuss a successful fishery;
• FFAW will be meeting with provincial Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, the Honourable Derrick Bragg tomorrow, July 21st, to discuss serious concerns with the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel, including sea cucumber and the ongoing issues at hand.

We thank our membership for their solidarity and support of the fleet as we continue to navigate through a troubling and tumultuous time for sea cucumber harvesters in the province. We will continue to provide timely updates as they become available.