ASP calls out alleged 'intimidation' of crab harvesters who want to fish for $2.20 per pound

The 2023 snow crab season started with a promise between the fisheries union and the processors association to work together — something akin to the Hatfields and McCoys striking a truce.

It did not last long.

Now three weeks into the snow crab fishery, not a single pound of the 10-legged species has been taken from the water, as fishermen protest what they consider a catastrophic price of $2.20 per pound.

On Tuesday, Association of Seafood Producers executive director Jeff Loder called on the fish harvesters to get their boats in the water before it was too late.

"The longer the fishery is delayed, the greater impact it has on the premium product Newfoundland seafood is known for," he said. "It's time to get the fishery started. There's too many livelihoods that depend on it."

Loder said the ASP has not changed its position on pricing since the organization's last update a week ago. Many of his talking points remained the same on Tuesday, but one thing stood out.

Loder called out "intimidation and harassment" levelled at fish harvesters who have expressed a willingness to fish for $2.20 a pound rather than sit out the season any longer. 

"We have been informed that there are harvesters who want to begin fishing however they have not begun for reasons that should cause Newfoundlanders and Labradorians great concern," he said.

He wouldn't specify who was doing the harassing, or if he was calling out the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) or its members with his remark, but said he believes there's a large number of harvesters who want to go fishing crab.

"[Some harvesters] are afraid of what might happen. There's a lot of chatter on social media and there's no place for that in any workplace in 2023." he said.

Loder said the ASP is willing to stick with the price-setting panel's ruling of $2.20, despite the market turning even further south since then. When the price was set in early April, the market price was at $5.75 US, and has since fallen to $4.75. Under the current rules, the ASP has a right to file for a reconsideration, which would likely result in an even lower price for fish harvesters.

"We know this is not an easy time for harvesters in the snow crab fishery and to demonstrate our sincerity to the FFAW and its members, we provided written confirmation to the FFAW that ASP would not seek a reconsideration on the price of snow crab for 21 days effective Friday, April 28," he said.

The FFAW held a news conference of its own on Tuesday where president Greg Pretty said he was disappointed by Loder's comments.

"What he's outlined here is a recipe for absolute economic disaster for the province," Pretty said.