The mounting criticism stems from a decision by Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc to award a potentially lucrative Arctic surf clam fishing licence to the Five Nations Clam Corp., based in New Brunswick. The Arctic surf clam fishery generated $90 million in sales in 2016 and mainly supplies the Asian sushi and sashimi market. The president of Premium Seafoods, Edgar Samson, is the brother of Nova Scotia Liberal MP Darrell Samson. Clearwater, which must give up a quarter of the allowable catch, had submitted a proposal that included a partnership with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs. The decision has spurred anger in Grand Bank, N.L., which has been home to Clearwater’s main, year-round clam processing facility for 27 years.

Source: National Post May 08, 2018 17:15 UTC