P.E.I. snow crab fishers to start 2025 season grappling with reduced quota, trade concerns

Snow crab fishers on Prince Edward Island are preparing to start their fishing season next week facing a 33 per cent reduction in the amount they're allowed to catch. 

The reduction is based on recommendations from scientists with the federal Department of Oceans and Fisheries, who have expressed concerns about the health of snow crab stocks. 

The stocks tend to rise and fall on a 10-year cycle, and the crab population is now at a below-average mark.

"We're kind of on a downhill swing here," said Carter Hutt, president of the P.E.I. Snow Crab Association. 

"The projection for next year is even down another 10 to 20 per cent," he said, adding that the upswing should be starting again around 2027. "We know it's going to come back… it just takes time for them to get back up to the legal size," Hutt said. 

The quota reduction for the 2025 fishing season comes as P.E.I.'s seafood industries are wondering about the impacts of  U.S. and Chinese tariffs on one of the province's major exports.  

"There's a lot of variables this year," Hutt said — variables that he thinks will definitely affect the price of snow crab. 

Fishing for new markets 

The combination of tariffs and a quota reduction will definitely have an impact on the bottom line of fishermen, Hutt said. 

"With the price of bait and fuel and everything going the way it's been going the last few years, it's going to make [incomes]… pretty small after you pay all your expenses," he said. 

"I sure hope Trump makes a decision on April 2 and doesn't put the tariffs on." 

At the Seafood Expo North America in Boston earlier this month, Canadian crab and lobster industry representatives talked about exploring and developing new markets. 

Hutt said about 80 per cent of product has been exported to the U.S. in recent years, adding: "We definitely need to expand and look for new markets, for sure. 

"People seem to be interested in the product, but now what the price is going to be — we'll have to wait and see." 

Fishing season 

While there are many variables affecting this year's snow crab fishing season, one thing seems certain: Fishers will be back out on the water at the beginning of April, eager to catch their share of the allowable catch. 

"The only thing to stop us right now from going on April 1st? It's probably weather," Hutt said. 

Then P.E.I. fishers will be watching for the return of endangered North Atlantic right whales, which usually happens in early May. If any are spotted in a particular region, the area can be closed to fishing boats, either temporarily or for the whole season. 

"It's looking great if we can get out on the water early," Hutt said. "Last year, a high percentage of the fishers were done before the whales even showed up, and that's great.

"We sure don't want to cause any problems with the whales, but we have to try and do our fishery as well."