It is fact that the increasing fuel prices is driving the dollar up and crab prices down. For fishermen this translates into bigger expenses and smaller profits. Earl McCurdy. The president of the Fish, Food, and Allied Workers (FFAW) union told that the high fuel costs has driven the price of crab down by 11 cents last Friday. That prompted some union members to tie up their boats and urge the union to fight for better prices. McCurdy informed that a large number of boats are tied up because the status-quo is not acceptable to them. Chair Joe O’Neil, Max Short and Bill Wells make up the panel that adjusts crab prices every two weeks.
According to McCurdy the panel decision is binding, however there is that possibility of reconsideration. The current price for raw crab is $1.50 per pound. McCurdy said that the fishermen want firm price that will have some staying power to it for the year. He said they approached the processors, but so far they weren’t prepared to do that. He also said that fishermen are not only looking for a better price, but a better pricing system.
The FFAW had a meeting with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, harvesters and processors to talk about some of the roadblocks to a worthwhile crab season. But nothing has come out of it, says McCurdy. Glen Winslow, a St. John’s fisherman, says if things get any worse, he won’t be able to justify taking his boat out at all. According to him the profit margin is not there for you to go out and not be able to fish as soon as you get out there. The fishermen hope that the government will use its oil revenues to help crab sector.
