Crab fishing: Fishermen stay in boats on the north coast

Unsatisfied with the prices offered to them by the mill owners, most of the crab fishermen in 16 areas on the north shore did not go to sea on Saturday when fishing began in their field.

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39 owners of 54 fishing licenses in Area 16 feel hurt by the temporary price of $2.25 per pound offered by the mills and accepted by fishermen in other parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec.

According to these fishermen, the only people in the province to group around the marketing group are not honoring the price formula that allows processors to get more than $2.25 a pound. According to their representative Jean-René Boucher, all factories in the province, including the six located on the north coast, have been issued with a watchword by the Fishing Industry Association not to accept crabs from area 16.

“There is still anger, explained Jean-René Boucher, Director of the Fisheries Office of Region 16. We are ready to go fishing, the fishing season has been open since Saturday, April 1, which are the best weeks for fishing. The catches are currently in good condition. Fishermen are not mentally easy to stay in the sea. , we hope the conflict will be resolved.

Part 16 Fishermen and mill owners disagree on the pricing formula provided in the contract. Operators say they could face losses in another year if implemented.

Additionally, disputes persist over the prices offered to fishermen in 2020 and 2022. The Secretaries intend to enter into an agreement with the Zone 16 Fisheries Office to settle these disputes outside the courts and the Agricultural Market Board. Jean-Paul Gagne, director of the Quebec Fishing Industry Association, says he submitted a fair proposal to fishermen.

“The 2023 season will not be easy for anyone. We ask the rest of the fishermen and businessmen to share the risk. Last year 2022, I would say that all factories were running at a loss. Consumers didn’t buy crabs so they paid higher prices. Here we are with inventory for 2020.

Despite this tussle between the Fishermen’s Office and the factory owners, the landing of small quantities of crabs for fishmongers on the north coast should be done in the coming days.