The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and five seafood processors are suing the leadership of the Fish, Food, and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) for CAD 2.5 million (USD 1.8 million, EUR 1.5 million), claiming the ongoing dispute over snow crab has caused damage to the industry.
Barry Group, Beothic Fish Processors Limited, Quin-Sea Fisheries, Ocean Choice International, and Quinlan Brothers – along with the ASP – are plaintiffs in the case which has named FFAW Inshore Vice President Jason Sullivan and FFAW President Dwan Street as defendants. According to reporting by the CBC, the complaint alleges the two engaged in an “unlawful conspiracy” to prevent snow crab harvesters from fishing.
"In consequence of Sullivan and Street's unlawful conduct, the plaintiffs have suffered pecuniary damages and continue to suffer pecuniary damages associated with the forgone profits that the plaintiffs would have realized had they been able to purchase snow crab from harvesters for processing and sales,” the claim states.
The lawsuit is the latest in an ongoing dispute over the minimum price for snow crab, which the Newfoundland and Labrador Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel set at CAD 5.30 (USD 3.86, EUR 3.27). That price and pricing formula was offered by the ASP, as the FFAW effectively abandoned the price-setting process and did not submit any competing offer after heavily criticizing it for months.
CBC reported the statement of claim made by the lawsuit cites several Facebook posts Sullivan has made on his private “Newfoundland Fisherman’s Forum,” where he allegedly said no crab would be landed until a “fair price” of more than CAD 6.00 (USD 4.37, EUR 3.70) was reached. Sullivan also allegedly called on people to “publicly shame” other harvesters if they were preparing to fish.
The claim also pointed to a protest in Argentia, Newfoundland, which blocked a salmon vessel from unloading and said that both Sullivan and Street were present.
ASP Executive Director Lorelei Roberts told SeafoodSource it would not comment on the matter.
“ASP is currently focusing its efforts on ensuring a stable, coordinated fishery, and we have no comment on this matter as it is with the court,” Roberts said.
