Several refrigerated trucks full of boiled crabs were parked near the McGraw Seafood plant in Trakeday on Wednesday. These consignments of valuable crustaceans are waiting to hit the road and spread in the United States. However, given the weak consumer demand this season, they could stay there for a while.
Gilles Therio, president of the New Brunswick Crab Processors Association, explains that the market is quite complex, especially on the American side.
” Crab seeps into the market. »
Last year, the industry sold crustaceans as they were caught and processed. This spring, buyers from the United States do not seem to be in a hurry to do business with processors in northeastern New Brunswick.
Gilles Therio noted that the Americans still have a crab from Russia. In addition, the price scared away fans. These two elements cause refrigerated trucks to remain stationary.
ans. On sait qu’on va vendre notre produit, mais à quel prix? On ne connaît pas encore le plancher où les Américains vont acheter. Il y a aussi l’inflation. Il y a une limite à ce que les gens sont prêts à payer”,”text”:”Nous avons de grandes quantités en stock. C’était imprévu. Certains disent qu’on n’a pas vu ça depuis 25ans. On sait qu’on va vendre notre produit, mais à quel prix? On ne connaît pas encore le plancher où les Américains vont acheter. Il y a aussi l’inflation. Il y a une limite à ce que les gens sont prêts à payer”}}”>We have a large quantity in stock. It was unexpected. Some say we haven’t seen it in 25 years. We know we are going to sell our product, but at what price? We do not yet know the bottom where Americans will buy. There is also inflation. There is a limit to what people are willing to pay
explains Gilles Therio.
This directly affects the crab bought from fishermen. The quota jumped 40% with a starting price of more than $ 8 per pound. But things changed quickly. Right whales arrived earlier in the fishing grounds, which complicated the work of fishermen.
Gilles Therio will not be surprised if fishing companies fail to catch all their quotas.
$ la livre en attendant de voir où ça va finir, ce plancher. On pourra ensuite ajuster les prix à la fin de l’année en conséquence du marché. C’est un peu ce qui se passe “,”text”:”On a discuté avec certains pêcheurs. On leur a dit qu’on avait l’option de donner une avance de 6$ la livre en attendant de voir où ça va finir, ce plancher. On pourra ensuite ajuster les prix à la fin de l’année en conséquence du marché. C’est un peu ce qui se passe “}}”>We talked to several fishermen. We told them we had the opportunity to give an advance of $ 6 a pound while we waited to see where it would end, on this floor. Then we can adjust the prices at the end of the year as a result of the market. This is somehow what is happening
says the president of the New Brunswick Crab Processors Association.
Concerns among fishermen
Paul Robiso, a fisheries adviser to the Akkadian Regional Federation of Professional Fishermen (FRAPP), confirms that the snow crab season is off target.
After five weeks of fishing this spring, 65% of the quota was docked, compared to 81% in the same period in 2021.
There is a crab, but it is not in the traps
he noted.
The problem is that the snow crab breeds, not feeds. That’s why he doesn’t go to lockers.
Finally, a soft crab without a shell, which has no commercial value, is about to take over.
We are very concerned that fishermen have not met their quotas this year. We are realistic. Fishermen saw others. We may see crabs during the last two weeks of June
hopes Paul Robishaw.
And there are whales
The closure of several fishing areas in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence due to the early arrival of whales has also complicated matters, he said. Dictionary for FRAPP claims that 34 whales were spotted, leading to the closure of several fishing areas.
2018, c’est toujours une surprise de voir de grandes zones de pêche éliminées par leur présence. Et elles arrivent de plus en plus tôt”,”text”:”Nous sommes en faveur de la protection des baleines noires, mais quand elles ont quitté un territoire, on devrait pouvoir le rouvrir aux pêcheurs. Même si on le sait depuis2018, c’est toujours une surprise de voir de grandes zones de pêche éliminées par leur présence. Et elles arrivent de plus en plus tôt”}}”>We stand for the protection of right whales, but when they leave the area, we must be able to reopen it to fishermen. Despite the fact that it is known since 2018, it is always strange to see that large fishing areas are eliminated by their presence. And they come earlier and earlier
says Paul Robishaw.
This year, fishermen are using new on-demand trap technology. This allows for commercial fishing with a small number of traps in closed areas. These traps are ropeless and have a buoy for lifting.
According to journalist Mario Mercier