Canada Announces 2026 Snow Crab Quotas: Newfoundland Down 3%, Gulf Faces Steeper 11% Cut

Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced coordinated quota decisions for the country's major snow crab fisheries today, setting Newfoundland and Labrador's 2026 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) at 61,004 tonnes and the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence at 16,267.90 tonnes.

While Newfoundland faces a modest 3% decrease from 2025 levels, the Gulf region received significantly steeper reductions with an 11% cut, marking the third consecutive year of quota decreases for Canada's second-largest crab fishery.

Despite the overall reduction...

Harvester Union Fires Back at Newfoundland Processors Over Snow Crab Export Allegations

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) has fired back at seafood processors' criticism over snow crab exports, calling the Association of Seafood Producers' (ASP) public letter to the premier "inaccurate and misleading."

In a March 25 media release responding to ASP's letter to Premier Tony Wakeham, FFAW disputed key allegations about harvesters refusing to fish and plans to ship large volumes of unprocessed crab out of province.

"ASP's assertion that harvesters are refusing to fish is incorrect," said FFAW President Dwan Street. "Harvesters are prepared to...

FFAW Delays Snow Crab Price Negotiations Pending Federal Quota Decision

FFAW-Unifor's Snow Crab Negotiating Working Group unanimously decided to suspend participation in snow crab price negotiations until Canadian Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson releases the 2026 crab quotas and opening dates.

The union representing snow crab fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador said its approach will allow fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Maritimes to begin first, leading to market stabilization before NL negotiations commence. FFAW said the delay will also provide more time for companies to complete outstanding payments owed to harvesters from the 2025 season...

SENA 2026: Keyport Eyes Next Growth Phase as Crab Specialist Approaches 30-Year Milestone

Keyport is using its approaching 30th anniversary as an inflection point to scale operations and expand beyond its current platform, which handles a significant portion of king crab and snow crab from Alaska. In an interview with Expana, CEO Mark Pedersen said the company has experienced steady growth and is positioning for its next phase of expansion.

"We think we've got one of the best brands in the industry right now," Pedersen said. "It's just how do we keep leveraging it and growing it from here...

FFAW-Unifor Seeks Dismissal of Price Panel Chair, ASP Backs Murphy Amid Snow Crab Settlement Feud

The union representing snow crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), FFAW-Unifor, has called for the removal of Standing Fish Price Setting Panel Chair Sheilagh Murphy in a letter to NL Minister Mike Goosney.

FFAW criticized Murphy's public comments, which they say effectively rewrote the Panel’s decision by stating that only 30-lb bulk boxes should be used in calculating the end-of-season settlement payment. The union described this as an “unauthorized intervention” occurring after the decision-making process was complete...

Access, Concentration, and Risk: The New Structure of Global Crab Trade

The 2026 global crab market is increasingly defined by concentration and control. Two dominant poles now shape global trade flows: the United States, which has consolidated its position as the world’s premier destination for king and snow crab, and China, which continues to absorb the majority of Russian live production at record levels. In this environment, competitive advantage is no longer driven by tonnage alone, but by secure access, disciplined inventory management, and credible supply chains.

This concentration has left secondary markets—particularly in Asia—more exposed to currency...

2025 Survey: Pollock Biomass Down by 30%, Snow Crab Up by 51% in Eastern Bering Sea

The walleye pollock biomass dropped by 30% from 2024, according to results of the annual eastern Bering Sea trawl survey, but a much smaller portion found in the northern Bering Sea rose by 50.6% YOY. 

Pollock is the largest contributor of biomass in both the eastern and northern Bering Sea. It accounts for 28% of the EBS and 23% of the NBS, making it the largest US commercial fishery.  

Even with a 30% drop in biomass, there is enough for the conservation-led...

Russian Snow Crab Price Remained Unchanged at $19.7 per Kilo at the 4th Busan Auction

According to a report in the Minato Shimbun, the fourth bidding round of the year for frozen Opilio snow crab from the Russian Far East took place on November 28th in Busan, South Korea. According to one trading company, 53 tons of air-blast frozen cooked sections produced in late October were up for bid. The winning bid (single price for L-4L sizes, EXW Busan) was $19.70/kg, unchanged from the third auction, and is believed to have been won by...

Record Prices, Record Imports, Record Shifts — 2025 Crab Trade Turns Upside Down

The holiday period remains the most active stretch of the year for global king and snow crab, and this season is no different. Alaska red king crab has entered December holiday channels, while harvesters have now shifted to the largest Bairdi (Tanner) snow crab harvest seen in more than a decade. Prices for red and golden king crab remain at record highs and have shown little elasticity throughout the year despite broader economic uncertainty.

Attention across the industry has sharpened around the US...

Court Drops All Charges Against Quinlan in Bay de Verde Crab Case

Quinlan Seafood says a court has dismissed all charges related to crab production and handling at its Bay de Verde facility after the Crown chose not to call any evidence, concluding there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.

In a November 13 statement, the company said the decision vindicates its position that the allegations were unfounded and rooted in “flawed testing, unproven and untested technology, and improper inspection authority.” Quinlan President Robin Quinlan said the company and its employees had “borne the weight” of what he called arbitrary...

Les Hodges: New Season Alaska King and Snow Crab Quotas Announced!

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released advisory announcements this past week showing gains across three major species of crab. Red king crab increased by 16%, Tanner (bairdi) jumped by 113%, and opilio snow crab increased by 97%! There was even a hybrid snow crab that will be harvested during the Opilio harvest. With fishing opening on October 15, buyers can expect Alaska red king and Tanner snow crab just in time for the holiday market.

Meanwhile, Norwegian frozen red king crab shipments through September reached 1.7 million...

The Winding Glass: Snow Crab Market Experiencing Real Shortfall

Much of the analysis of the snow crab market this spring focused on two key issues: how tariffs could impact sales, and whether economic weakness and consumer resistance would limit price increases.  

In July and August, prices rose rapidly, far more quickly than they did in 2024. A normal seasonal pattern in snow crab is that prices trend higher once the season has ended. This year, it was more extreme than many had expected. Was it speculation and artificial constriction of supply, or was it a genuine signal of market distress...

Champlain Seafood Expands with Purchase of BA Richard, a Long-time New Brunswick Lobster Processor

Champlain Seafood, a major Canadian snow crab and lobster processor, announced its acquisition of BA Richard, a lobster processor based in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, New Brunswick.

Champlain noted that BA Richard’s operations trace back to the late 1800s. The company said it has been operated by four generations of the Richard family and has become a local staple.

BA Richard has had a 30-plus-year partnership with Cape Bald Packers, a company under the Champlain umbrella...

Red Lobster Announces Return of Crabfest and New Seafood Boil Options

On June 23, 2025, Red Lobster announced the return of its annual Crabfest event along with new flavors and all-new Seafood Boils.

The promotional event follows a series of recent ups and downs for the seafood dining chain, which is currently rebounding from a bankruptcy filing more than a year ago. The company has also experienced significant leadership turnover, with a fresh lineup amassing by November 2024 for its CEO, CFO, and COO.

As part of the latest Crabfest, Red Lobster is now offering two seafood boil options...

Les Hodges: Canadian Snow Crab is Open for Business

As the first quarter of 2025 concludes, early indicators offer insights into market direction for the remainder of the year. Despite high crab prices in various segments, market conditions remain generally favorable. Norwegian red king crab is currently the only red king crab listed on the Urner Barry Price-Current, as inventories of Alaska red and golden king crab are limited and held by only a few hands. 

Total red king crab quotas for 2025 across the U.S. and Norway stand at 5.408 million pounds, while Alaska’s golden king crab adds...

FFAW Applauds Panel’s Decision on NL Snow Crab Price

According to a news release published yesterday afternoon by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers Union (FFAW), the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel finally reached a decision on snow crab pricing for the 2025 season in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), ruling in favor of the FFAW’s proposed floor price of $4.97 per pound.

Per the Panel’s decision, the FFAW’s starting price was approved across the board, with an adjustment at the end of the season based on market performance, says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. The chosen floor price is...

Newfoundland Processors Challenge Outside Buyers' Licence Program Over FFAW Crab Export Plans

The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) has publicly challenged Newfoundland and Labrador's outside buyers' licence program, arguing the policy enables the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union to ship four million pounds of unprocessed snow crab to other provinces.

In a March 24 letter to Premier Tony Wakeham, ASP argued the outside buyers' licence program allows the FFAW to "operate outside the provincial collective agreement, outside established grading rules, outside the fee structures paid by local processors, and outside the economic...

NOAA Study Reveals How Pacific Cod Size Affects Snow Crab, Tanner Crab Predation Patterns

A new study by NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center biologists illuminates predator-prey dynamics between Pacific cod and commercially important snow and Tanner crabs. 

Scientists examined diet data collected during surveys of the eastern Bering Sea since 1985, along with spatial models over that time period. They discovered that the single most important factor related to total crab consumption by Pacific cod is not only the abundance of the Pacific cod population, but also the size of the cod when it is near crab...

DFO Warns Newfoundland & Labrador Snow Crab Biomass Could Hit Historic Lows by 2028

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) stock assessment released Feb. 24 warned that exploitable biomass for snow crab in Newfoundland and Labrador could fall to historic lows by 2028, driven by warming ocean temperatures and low numbers of mature females and non-commercial‑size crab. 

“Continued warming of ocean temperatures, low numbers of mature female and non‑commercial‑size crab indicate that the exploitable biomass in all assessment divisions is expected to be at or near historic lows by 2028,” DFO stock assessment biologist Julia Pantin said...

Arbitrator Upholds ASP on 2025 Snow Crab Settlement Price; FFAW Grievance Denied

An arbitrator has rejected a grievance from FFAW‑Unifor and upheld the Association of Seafood Producers’ (ASP) handling of the 2025 snow crab settlement price, affirming the province’s Standing Fish Price‑Setting Panel outcome and the minimum price paid to harvesters of $5.25/lb, ASP said Friday.

The ruling supports ASP’s position that the settlement should be based on sales of 5–8oz sections in 30‑lb wholesale boxes and that processors follow the FFAW‑agreed formula used by independent auditor Deloitte...

New York Man Charged in Snow Crab, Blueberries Heist After Allegedly Hacking Trucking Company Emails

A New York man was arrested and charged with allegedly hacking into the email accounts of trucking companies and using them to book cargo shipments containing snow crab, blueberries, and designer cologne and selling them for profit

Romoy Forbes, a Jamaican National residing in Deer Park, NY, was charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods and conspiracy to commit that offense, according to the US Attorney's Office of the District of Massachusetts. He was arrested in Long Island, NY and...

Snow Crab Price Dispute Continues As Rebate Calculation Divides Newfoundland Industry

The end‑of‑season settlement payment for the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab season was announced yesterday, and harvesters reacted with disappointment.

FFAW‑Unifor, the union representing the province's harvesters, said auditors from Deloitte completed their analysis and set a final rebate of $0.28, yielding a total price of $5.25/lb.

“Based on the available market information, the calculated rebate amount is far below what the Negotiating Committee expected,” FFAW said in a news release. “Today's rebate results are the final straw for fish harvesters who are...

Snow Crab Collapse Linked to Energetic Limits Amid Marine Heatwave, NOAA Study Finds

NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), highlighted a recent study focused on the massive collapse of the snow crab population in the eastern Bering Sea. Led by NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center biologist Erin Fedewa, the research sought to understand the causes of the 2018-2019 mortality event and the species’ potential for recovery.

A key aspect of the study was measuring snow crab energy reserves during and after the marine heatwave. Using biochemical assays of lipids and proteins in muscle and...

Canada Positions Itself for Growth at Strategically Timed Seafood Conference Ahead of CFSE

China’s role as a critical market for Canadian seafood took center stage at the 2025 Canada Seafood Conference, strategically held one day before the opening of the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo (CFSE), Asia’s largest and most influential seafood trade event. The timing gave Canada first dibs in visibility as global buyers arrived in Qingdao, creating an early platform for engagement with Chinese importers and distributors.

Organized by the Atlantic Canada Business Network (ACBN), the conference gathered more than 100 delegates from Canadian governments, industry associations...

Les Hodges: Frozen Crab to the US, Live to China - Everything Else is Just Noise

As the industry enters the final weeks of 2025, one reality is unmistakable: global king and snow crab movement is now shaped almost entirely by the United States and China. The US has become the dominant outlet for frozen snow crab, absorbing record volumes from Canada and Norway, while China controls the live crab market and continues to pull the majority of Russian king and snow crab. Japan remains Asia's largest frozen crab buyer, but demand has fallen sharply under a weak yen and declining consumer...

Bering Sea Snow and Tanner Crab Quotas Nearly Double Due to Increasing Biomass

New crab quotas in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands have risen for the third year in a row after the two-year closure in 2021 and 2022. For Bering Sea snow crab, the annual quota for this season is 9.3 million pounds (lbs), up 97% from last year’s 4.7 million pounds.  

Bering Sea bairdi Tanner crab quota is up 79% to 11.25 million pounds, compared to 6.2 million pounds last year.  

The Bristol Bay red king crab quota took a modest 16% jump to 2.68 million...

Unalaska May Process St. Paul Snow Crab Again While St. Paul Faces No Air Service

The unique agreement between two Bering Sea communities that allows one to process crab for the other and funnel the fish tax back to the one with no processing capacity, may be extended to the 2025-26 crab season, according to a report by KUCB of Unalaska.

Last January, St. Paul in the Pribilov Islands, and Unalaska/Dutch Harbor processors, with the approval of NOAA Fisheries and the industry, designed a work-around if Trident Seafoods did not open...

Norway Exports NOK 85.2 Billion in Seafood in First Half of 2025, Increases 6% YOY

According to a recent news release from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Norway's seafood exports increased by NOK 4.6 billion (USD $ 454.46 million), or 6%, during the first half of 2025, when compared to the same period last year, thus signifying the best first half to date for the European country.

From January to June of this year, Norway exported a total worth of NOK 85.2 billion (USD $8.4 billion) and a total volume of 1.3 million tonnes of seafood, with June alone...

Les Hodges: Canadian Snow Crab Dominates Imports

The global snow crab markets are entering its peak trading period, with Canadian snow crab once again at the forefront. From April to July, U.S. imports typically account for 75-80% of Canada's snow crab shipments, reflecting seasonal timing and market dependence.

Canada leads global production with a 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of 94,724 metric tons. Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Canadian snow crab enters the U.S. tariff-free. Imports of Canadian snow crab are expected to meet or exceed the 112.9 million pounds recorded in...

Russia to Sell New 2025 Crab Quotas to Investors

The Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) has announced a tender for the distribution of crab quotas for a total sum of RUB 2.1 billion (US$26 million).  

Under the terms of the tender, the winner of the tender will build medium-tonnage fishing vessels over 50 meters long that are designed for crab catch.  

As for quotas, they will be for extracting red snow crab in the Primorye subzone (50%), red snow crab in the West Sakhalin subzone (50%), snow crab angulatus in the East Sakhalin subzone (50%) and...