Even if they have to compose with a reduced contingent, the crab trees are doing pretty well: they get a much better price for their resource – twice that of 2024. In the end, it is consumers who are receiving, paying a little more to fish.
“I can tell you currently that for boats with ice wedges, it varies between $ 7 and $ 8. It compensates for the loss of quota, ”explains the director general of the Association of Crabiers Acadiens (ACA), Marcel Hébert.
Ice wedges allow you to keep snow crab in a refrigerated space where it remains alive. Captains equipped with such a system receive better prices.
“The price of the crab can probably be around $ 7 per book or better. This is what we hear, ”says the director of the Association of Professional Fishermen Crabiers Acadiens (Appca), Paul Robichaud.
“We as an association, we have always given free rein to fishermen, who are entrepreneurs, to negotiate the price of their catches themselves with their buyers, that is to say factories.”
Last year at such a date, the fishermen received around $ 3.25 and $ 3.50 per book for their capture.
Higher price for consumers
Monday at the Port Royal Port of Lamèque, the Category 2L snow crab, that is to say between 8 and 10 ounces per section of Crab, sold $ 22.50 per book.
“It’s the same crab that we sell to the Japanese,” says the representative of fishmonger, Gaston Mallet. According to him, the Japanese are ready to pay a little more for this quality crab.
The same crab was sold much cheaper in 2024. “Last year it was sold for $ 16.50,” he said. In fact, prices are up for all crab sizes.
There are different categories of crab on the market, according to its size and quality, i.e. M (3 to 5 ounces per section), L (5 to 8 ounces), 2L (8 to 10 ounces), 3L (10 to 12 ounces) and rarely 4L (12 to 14 ounces).
A season that is coming to an end? Not really
Given the drop in the eligible total capture (TAC) of around 33% compared to 2024, we asked the stakeholders if the season, which started on April 5, was already coming to an end.
“No, not really,” replied Marcel Hébert, laughing. ” Most are right in it. “
“I have the impression that we will not fish in June, but we still have a month of fishing before it is over,” said Paul Robichaud.
The fact remains that the season is already completing for a minority of fishermen.
“You have boats that have very small contingents. It is in the field of the possible that within a week or two, these will start to raise lockers, ”informs Paul Robichaud.
