The Provincial Government is highlighting its commitments and progress on fisheries issues that have been raised over the past week by harvesters in the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW).

The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, wrote to Greg Pretty, President of the FFAW, on March 14, 2024, to request clarification of the position of the union regarding outside buyers. In a letter of March 15, 2024, the FFAW replied to indicate its support for allowing outside buyers on all species, requesting that processing capacity be raised by lifting the caps on processing licenses and issuing new processing licenses, and a comprehensive review of structural issues associated with the fishery.

The Minister responded to the FFAW on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, and the response letter can be found here.

In response to these requests, the Provincial Government has taken the following positions with the FFAW and harvesters:

• Outside buyers: The Provincial Government initiated an application process for outside buyers on March 19, 2024, starting with the soon-to-be-opened snow crab fishery.
• Processing capacity: The Provincial Government will increase processing capacity in the snow crab industry prior to the start of the 2024 snow crab fishing season. The extent of the increase and mechanism to achieve the increase will be informed by the final Total Allowable Catch (TAC), once announced by the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
• Review of the Fishery: Government committed to a review that will touch on all elements of the fishery and will include the FFAW in the planning of the review.

The Provincial Government continues to work hard with all those who support the sustainable management of our fishing sector. There are 17,000 seafood workers and 400 communities that rely on the fishery for their livelihood.

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“Our Government has made significant commitments in response to requests from fish harvesters and their union. Some of these requests have been longstanding, and our Government has moved on each one of them. We will continue to engage with the FFAW, the Association of Seafood Producers, and all stakeholders as we move forward with a comprehensive review of the fishery.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

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Learn more
Minister’s Letter to FFAW (March 19)

Expression of Interest for Outside Buyers in the Crab Industry