32% increase in 2022 Newfoundland snow crab quota; cuts off Labrador

It's been said before, but must be said again, the fact that Fisheries and Oceans hands down a management plan/quota days before a fishery opens is ridiculous, and an insult to the inshore fleet. Imagine a small business owner not knowing how much inventory they will have for the year until a couple of days before a business opens.

The 2022 snow crab quota for the province has been set at 50,470 tonnes, a 32% overall increase over last year, although the quota off Labrador is down 28%.

The quota also includes a 32% increase in 3K; a 23% increase in 3LNO; a 54% increase in the 3Ps quota; a 49% increase in 4R3Pn, and an increase of 50 tonnes for the so-called use of fish quota, fish that DFO takes from industry to pay for science surveys.

The snow crab fishery in some areas off Newfoundland's east coast, plus the south coast and Gulf will open on Monday, April 4th, while other areas will start mid month.

Again, find the detailed quota breakdown for specific areas here.

The province's fish price setting panel is expected to hand down the snow crab price paid to the inshore fleet to start the season by tomorrow (Friday, April 1st) or Monday at the latest, choosing either the FFAW's $9.05/lb or the ASP's $7.60/lb.

Ryan Cleary,

Executive Director, SEA-NL

To read more about SEA-NL, and for owner-operators to join please visit our website or e-mail sea-nl@outlook.com Please sign SEA-NL's petition to the House of Commons on non-core commercial fishing licences here.