Media Release: FFAW Celebrates Victory in Snow Crab Pricing Decision

April 10, 2025

ST. JOHN’S, NL – FFAW-Unifor is pleased to announce a significant victory for snow crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador following the recent decision by the pricing panel. With this decision, the Panel has recognized the critical importance of stability in the crab fishery in our province—a cornerstone of our coastal economy.

“The formula set today is historically significant – today’s Panel decision is finally putting a system in place that gives harvesters a sense of fairness and transparency,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. “Our Negotiating Committee’s offer was, fair, reasonable, and very well thought out. It establishes a starting price that carries through the season, followed by a settlement at the end of the season based on market performance,” Street explains.

This marks the third year of progress toward a more equitable pricing structure for harvesters. Key improvements over last year’s agreement include a starting price aligned with our historic share and a sliding scale for the settlement price that ensures harvesters’ share increases as the market price rises.

Additionally, this structure brings further advancements for transparency and fairness. Harvesters will now receive sales receipts up to November 1—extending well beyond the previous three-week post-fishery deadline. The agreement also ensures receipts for 5-8 oz sections, not just sales to Boston, and guarantees that crewmembers will be paid directly by the company. These changes strengthen the position of harvesters and provide greater clarity in the fishery.

“This decision positions us well for years to come,” says Street. “We’ve made significant strides in ensuring a stable and fair fishery, but there are still battles to be fought. This is a big step forward for harvesters across the province, and we’re committed to continuing this momentum in all our future price negotiations,” Street concludes.