Lobster harvesters are selling their catches to provincial buyers once again as the Seafood Producers of Newfoundland and Labrador (SPONL) and the FFAW ended a dispute over lobster price.
The dispute started after processors said they could not pay the $4.25 set by the Standing Price Setting Panel at the beginning of the season. The two groups have now agreed to $3.25 per pound to start with, a price which will be reviewed every week until the end of the season.
Earle McCurdy
Earle McCurdy, the president of the Food, Fisheries and Allied Workers (FFAW), said that the agreement has several advantages for fish harvesters.
“One of the key things is that the agreement means that Newfoundland processors will begin buying lobsters once again. A lot of harvesters had lobsters left in crates in the water which can be very risky. The fishery is now up and running again, and that means we’re able to get some cash flow moving for the harvesters,” McCurdy said.
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