Canada extends snow crab season in parts of Newfoundland

Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans has extended the snow crab season in parts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Snow crab fishing got off to a late start in 2023 after a six-week standoff over pricing led harvesters to stay tied up at the dock. The impasse finally ended on 19 May, over a month after the fishery opened on 10 April.

That late start has left harvesters and the Fish Food and Allied Workers Union – which represents fishermen in the province – warning that the 2023 quota was unlikely to be caught.

The season for several fishing areas was originally scheduled to close on 30 June, but the DFO has announced extensions in multiple areas to give harvesters more time to fish.

DFO announced that in all crab fishing area of NAFO sub-Division 3Ps – 10A, 10B, 11S, 11W, and 11E – the fishing season will now last until 8 p.m. on 14 July, rather than 30 June. Fishing in NAFO Division 3K was also extended, and fishing in areas 3B, 3BC, 3C, 3D, and Area 4 will now close at 8 p.m. on 14 July.

Fishing in 3A has also been extended from its original 15 July closure date to 29 July.

Snow crab prices have continued to creep up since fishing began, but thanks to the late start the latest DFO data published on 23 June indicates just 22,340 metric tons of the 54,737 metric ton quota has been caught so far.  

Photo courtesy of the Government of Canada