The Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW), which represents fishers in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, has launched protests against Royal Greenland-owned Quin-Sea Fisheries and is calling for an investigation into the company, claiming it has engaged in an illegal lockout of union fishermen.
FFAW put out a release claiming the company – along with other companies that are members of the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP), which represents seafood-processing companies in the eastern Canadian province – has refused to pay the set price of CAD 0.69 (USD 0.49, EUR 0.42) per pound for sea cucumber.
In Newfoundland, the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel sets a minimum price for a range of seafood species like snow crab, lobster, and sea cucumber that determines what processors in the province will pay to fishers in the province. The panel is established by a legislative framework in the province and decided on the sea cucumber price on 20 August.
That price decision, which set the price lower than it was in 2024, was heavily influenced by a sharp drop in Chinese imports of Canadian sea cucumber. According to the panel’s official decision, China imported just 1,024 metric tons (MT) of dried sea cucumbers in 2024, down 69 percent from the 3,282 MT it imported in 2023.
That number could also be affected by new trade barriers as Canadian sea cucumber was one of the items targeted by a 25 percent tariff from China in response to Canada’s tariffs on electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products from China. However, the price setting panel said market information indicates there’s been no meaningful decline in sea cucumber volumes being shipped from Canada since the tariffs were implemented.
During price negotiations, the ASP argued for a CAD 0.50 (USD 0.36, EUR 0.30) price per pound and said the lower price would preserve relationships with Chinese buyers and “recognize the discretionary and luxury nature of sea cucumber, which places it among the first items cut form household budgets during periods of reduced consumer spending.”
FFAW said the final CAD 0.69 price was related to “overall stability we see form the data and market intelligence available but also accounts for the uncertainty in the Chinese market.”
Now that the price has been set, Newfoundland-based processors are required to pay it – but the FFAW said companies are deliberately undercutting harvesters and landing product in nearby St. Pierre and Miquelon instead of paying the higher price.
“This is nothing short of an illegal lockout and a slap in the face to Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters,” FFAW President Dwan Street said.
According to the FFAW, smaller companies in the province were initially willing to purchase sea cucumber at the panel’s price, but they “abruptly reversed their stance” in a way that it said has raised union member concerns about potential collusion and pressure by larger companies like Royal Greenland.
“Quin-Sea/Royal Greenland’s refusal to honor the panel-set price, coupled with their importation of cheaper product from another country, is a calculated move to undercut our harvesters and weaken the collective bargaining process,” Street said. “The sudden about-face by smaller processors, who were ready to buy at the fair price, reeks of coercion by the big players. This cartel-like behavior must end, and we demand immediate action from the provincial government to hold these companies accountable.”
Subsequent to its media release, FFAW sent a letter to Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries Minister Lisa Dempster calling for an investigation into both the ASP and Royal Greenland over the refusals to pay for sea cucumber.
“The provincial government’s independent market report confirms robust demand for sea cucumber, validating the fair price established through the collective bargaining process,” Street’s letter states. “However, Quin-Sea/Royal Greenland’s actions, coupled with the sudden reversal of smaller processors who initially agreed to the panel-set price, raise serious concerns about collusion and coercion within the ASP.”
This isn’t the first time that the FFAW has accused Royal Greenland of operating in bad faith in the province's sea cucumber fishery. In 2024, the union accused Royal Greenland of a number of unethical business practices, including claims the company tried to coerce sea cucumber harvesters to signing an agreement that would “circumvent the agreed-upon water loss in the 2024 sea cucumber schedule.”
Street’s letter claimed that if the union’s grievances aren’t addressed, frustration from harvesters may lead to public demonstrations. That proved true two days later as FFAW organized a demonstration against Royal Greenland.
“A fish-processing license is a privilege that must serve our province’s interests. We cannot allow ASP and their member companies like Royal Greenland to exploit our fishery at the expense of our communities,” Street wrote. “We implore you to act swiftly to protect our harvesters and uphold fair market practices before this situation escalates further.”
Street posted on her Facebook page that Royal Greenland has not responded to any of the union's requests to meet to resolve the situation and that the union won’t stand down from its position.
Royal Greenland recently announced it is restructuring its Newfoundland and Labrador operations, fully integrating Quin-Sea Fisheries into the company. It also said the long-time managing director of Quin-Sea was leaving his position to be replaced by a new head of production.
Royal Greenland has not responded to a request for comment from SeafoodSource.
