Canada: Capelin harvesters in N.L. threaten to not fish, union seeks fair share

Published 2024년 6월 20일

Tridge summary

Capelin harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are threatening to halt their operations due to dissatisfaction with the price-setting panel's decisions for the 2023 capelin fishery. The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) claims that the panel's offer undervalues the profit sharing for harvesters and processors, leading to an unfair profit distribution. The union is advocating for a formula-based system to ensure a fair split of profits, alongside a mechanism to adjust for market fluctuations. Despite the Department of Fisheries and Oceans maintaining the total allowable catch at 14,533 tonnes, which was lower than anticipated, neither the harvesters nor processors are content with the quotas allocated.

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Original content

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Capelin harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are threatening to not fish after the recent decisions made by the price-setting panel for this year’s capelin fishery. The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) said the offer made by the panel doesn’t offer fair value distribution of profits to its members and processors. The union alleges the processors are being paid $0.95 per pound to process capelin and earn $0.25 per pound, whereas harvesters were paid an average of $0.175 capelin per pound. The disparity, the union claims, has led to processors earning $6.9 million compared to the harvesters' $4.8 million. "We need to guarantee that at least half the value of the fishery remains with the workers in Newfoundland and Labrador,” stated union president Greg Pretty. The harvesters have submitted a new offer to the Association of Seafood Processors (ASP), for a formula-based system for a fair split while accounting for production costs. The offer ...

Source: Saltwire