The Buzz · St. John's Morning Wire

You won't believe the $5.30 crab price this year

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton — St. John's Morning Wire correspondent
Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton St. John's · St. John's Morning Wire

You won't believe da price of crab dis year

Whaddya at, b'y — this is St. John's, oldest city in North America, and we're still here. Let's go.

I'll tell ya one thing, b'y, you know it's springtime in St. John's when the snow *might* be gone and the wind is still knockin' ya sideways down Water Street, but da big talk ain't about da weather no more. It's about da crab. And holy smoke, b'y, da snow crab price has been set at $5.30 a pound for da season, and our fishers are not happy at all, b'y. Da union is callin' it "disgusting." Now, I know some folks might think, "What's da big deal wit' a few dollars?" but dis ain't just a few dollars, dis is our livelihood.

### Dis is Our Life, B'y

Dat $5.30 price, it's what da processors are payin' da fishers for da crab dey haul outta da icy North Atlantic. Dis isn't just a number; it affects families all over da province, from da folks in Ferryland to da ones up in Twillingate, and all da way back to us here in St. John's. When da crab price is low, it hits hard. It means less money comin' into da towns, less money for da small businesses on da main roads, and sometimes, b'y, it means more young people feelin' like dey gotta pack up and head out to Fort MacMurray just to make ends meet. It's a real punch to da gut for our coastal communities.

* **Financial Strain:** A lower price means less income for our fishers, some of whom are already strugglin' wit' fuel costs and boat maintenance. * **Community Impact:** Less money circulates in fishing communities, affectin' local shops, restaurants, and services. * **Economic Ripple:** The crab fishery is a huge part of our provincial economy, and a dip here can be felt right across St. John's, even if you're not directly on da water.

I remember when da IceCaps were here, and everyone was talkin' about da game down at da Mile One Centre, and now it feels like da big talk is always about da fish. Dis whole debate, it’s not just about some numbers on a spreadsheet for us in St. John's; it’s about da heart of Newfoundland, b'y. It’s about makin’ sure our people can stay home and make a life here, instead of always lookin' away.

Da crew on da Morning Wire gets into dis sorta thing every day – you should really tune in live at mornings.live.

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton is the St. John's correspondent for the MiTL Conversation Desk, covering the St. John's Morning Wire.

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