The Association of Seafood Producers says they narrowly avoided labor shortages in the crab fishery.
The Fish, Food and Allied Worker (FFAW) and ASP were able to reach an agreement last week to get boats back on the water.
ASP Executive Director Jeff Loder says now that the crab fishery is underway, workers have returned to plants, but it may have taken a turn had the delay in the fishery lasted any longer.
He says he has not heard of any significant issues with workers moving out of the industry, but they were close to that point, which was a factor in them agreeing to sign the FFAW’s proposal.