The Union has strongly opposed applications by the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) to the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel to reduce the raw material price for shrimp and crab.
The spring price schedule for shrimp is scheduled to expire on June 20th, and negotiations are scheduled to take place prior to that date for summer prices.
Union President Earle McCurdy and Secretary-Treasurer David Decker along with the chairs of the shrimp fleets met the Panel earlier this week and made a strong case to leave the current price schedule alone.
With respect to crab, the Union has asked the Panel to dismiss the latest ASP decision. Failing that, the Union has requested an opportunity for a committee of fleet leaders to make their case to the Panel.
“This is an abuse of process by ASP,” McCurdy said. They’ve already been back to the Panel several times since the price of crab was settled. They already got one price reduction from the Panel. The Panel should dismiss this application out of hand.
He noted that any further change in the crab price would be particularly damaging to fleets and individuals who have been prevented by ice conditions or other circumstances beyond their control from getting their fishery started.
McCurdy said the processors should have been more receptive when he proposed last winter that the provincial government put in place an inventory financing backup plan to help the industry get through what would likely be a very difficult year in 2009.
“The processors weren’t interested because their solution to all problems is cheaper raw material. Cheap raw material doesn’t fix the problem if people can’t afford to fish.”
He noted that the processors also voted against a Seafood Marketing Council even though the provincial government had offered to invest over $5 million in it.
“These chickens are coming home to roost now,” he said. “Our lack of marketing strategy and financing strength to hold inventory is hurting us in the market place.”
