Fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador are taking action as the price of snow crab has dropped to less than one-third of what it was a year ago. On Monday morning, members of the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union gathered on the steps of the provincial legislature to demand government intervention in the province’s most lucrative fishery.
The current price of snow crab, set at $2.20 per pound earlier this month, has left many harvesters unable to cover their costs. Despite the fishing season being open, boats are staying docked as harvesters hope for a higher price. About 500 union members and their supporters braved the blowing snow, hoisting signs that read “People Over Profit” and “End Processor Control.”
Speaking at a lectern outside Confederation Building’s front doors, Jason Spingle, the union’s secretary treasurer, drew parallels to a previous fight over lobster prices more than a decade ago. He emphasized the need for fairness in the fishery and highlighted the risks that harvesters face on a daily basis.
“Harvesting fish is tough, dangerous work, and our harvesters put their lives at risk every single day,” said Spingle. “The fishing industry is crucial not only to our coastal communities but also to our towns and cities. A dollar from fish is equal to a dollar from oil or nickel. It’s the same new dollar.”
The current price of $2.20 per pound represents a sharp drop from the near $8 per pound at the beginning of the last season. Even last season’s lowest price of $6.15 per pound was nearly triple this year’s mark. The decline in international demand is being blamed for the lower price, following two years of profitable fishing.
According to figures from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, in 2022, fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador landed more than 50,000 tonnes of crab, with an average price of $6.87 per pound, totaling over $759 million. However, the current low price of snow crab has left harvesters struggling to cover their costs and is jeopardizing their livelihoods.
The protest on the steps of the provincial legislature is a clear call to action for the government to address the issue and work towards a fair pricing formula for snow crab. The union and its supporters are urging the government to prioritize the interests of the people over profit and find a solution that supports the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.