Solid landings and shore price have made for a positive snow crab season in Atlantic Canada.
“We’ve had a great season,” said Allan MacLean, senior operations manager at Louisbourg Seafoods. “The quotas were increased in Area 23 and 24. Catches have been very good since the start of the season. It’s been a very positive season for us. The price has really held steady since the start of the season. The markets took a dip when the Newfoundland crab came in, but it’s starting to come up again. Overall, the market has been very strong.”
The total allowable catch (TAC) for snow crab was reduced in many fishing areas for 2026, including the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence where it was set at 16,267.90 tonnes, compared to 18,334.49 tonnes in 2025.
The TAC was also reduced In Newfoundland and Labrador. Overall, the N.L. TAC was set at 61,004 tonnes, representing a three per cent decrease from 2025. Two of the five harvesting areas have seen increases, including a four per cent increase in 3LNO and a 19 per cent increase in 4R3Pn.
At the same time, three harvesting areas experienced decreases, including an 18 per cent decrease in Area 3K (26 per cent reduction in the offshore management area in 3K, with the inshore areas of 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3BC being rolled over), as well as a 30 per cent decrease in area 3Ps and a 20 per cent decrease in area 2HJ.
“Weather has been the big story here,” said Dwan Street, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Unifor (FFAW). “Thick fog, but it’s getting better.”
As of mid-June, 63 per cent of the N.L. snow crab had been caught, said Street, with good catches on the northeast coast and landings down a bit on the southwest and west coasts.
“The catches were down, but pricing is up, so it has shifted a bit,” said Street.
Snow crab prices in N.L. have ranged from $5.58 to $6/pound as of mid-June.
In southeastern Nova Scotia, where the season started in March, the price has been $6, said MacLean.
“Most of the processing plants will be done the middle of July,” he said. Louisbourg Seafoods has crab processing facilities in Canso and Louisbourg.
Snow crab quality has been great this season, said Street. “I haven’t heard any issues when it comes to crab. Lobster the same, no issues.”
Street added there have been really good signs of recruitment for both snow crab and lobster, especially along the southwest coast this season. “They’ve been seeing a lot of juveniles.”
The shore price for N.L. lobster harvesters this year ranged from $8.44 a pound to $7.06 in mid June. Both the N.L. lobster and snow crab seasons closed at various dates in July.
