For Immediate Release,
April 16, 2026, St. John’s, NL –
The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union–Unifor (FFAW) have worked together to create a system that adjusts in‑season snow crab prices based on market conditions.
This agreement confirms that the existing collective agreement remains in place and that the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel’s minimum price decision is final. This agreement pays harvesters upfront, rather than by a settlement adjustment after the season, based on market prices reported by Urner Barry (UB) for Newfoundland and Labrador 5–8 oz snow crab clusters.
ASP and FFAW are clear that threats and violence have no place in today’s fishery and respect each harvester’s individual choice to fish, and the choice of each processor and buyer’s decision to buy.
ASP and FFAW agree that a timely start to the crab fishery is important for harvesters, plant workers, processors and the province and remain committed to working together to support a stable, coordinated, and successful snow crab season and encourage respect, and alignment across the entire industry.
“This industry supports thousands of people and families across coastal Newfoundland and Labrador and works best when the Association of Seafood Producers and the Fish Food and Allied Workers Union-Unifor work together.” Lorelei Roberts, Executive Director, ASP
“We know all our members are anxious to get a fishery going at a price they can be satisfied with. After a difficult few weeks, our negotiating team feels this agreement provides a pricing structure that is more in line with market realities,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street.
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Media Contact:
Association of Seafood Producers
709-726-3730
info@seafoodproducers.org
Fish Food and Allied Workers Union-Unifor
709-576-7276
ntravis@ffaw.ca
Background
2026 Snow Crab Schedule
The prices and related terms and conditions for crab for 2026 are set out in this Schedule.
The parties agree that this Schedule and the Master Collective Agreement dated September 17, 2020 (or any replacement Master Collective Agreement thereto) together constitute a Crab Collective Agreement between the parties for the purposes of the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act.
- The pricing structure for the 2026 snow crab fishing season shall be as follows:
In advance of the first UB quote (UB Crab, Snow, Cluster, Newfoundland, 5-8 oz, low), the price to harvesters will be $6.00/lb for >4” carapace from April 12, 2026 to April 18, 2026.
Effective April 19, 2026, 12:00AM NDT, the price paid to harvesters will be $5.75/lb for >4” carapace, until such time that the first UB quote of NL 5-8oz sections low issued.
From the point of the first UB NL 5-8oz low quote is issued, the price to harvesters will be based on the interval table above, using the weekly average of the Tuesday and Thursday UB NL 5-8oz low quote and the currency provision as outlined in Appendix A.
During the time period prior to the first UB quote, should the initial UB NL 5-8oz low quote create a higher price to harvester than $5.75/lb, processors will rebate harvesters the price difference, for the period prior to the quote.
Should the initial UB NL 5-8oz low quote create a lower price to harvesters than the $5.75/lb, harvesters will retain the $5.75/lb for that time period, and no deduction will be applied.
All other terms and conditions as per the 2025 crab schedule, including the 20% tolerance for <4” crab remain in place.
