BR Surf Clam Reversal – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Aug 15, 2018 

CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, N.L. – The new federal fisheries minister has made his first visit to Newfoundland and Labrador following the cancellation of a controversial surf clam fishing license.

The multimillion-dollar license was awarded to the Five Nations Clam Company and was supposed to offer 25 per cent of the catch to local Indigenous communities.

The deal came under scrutiny after court documents suggested the company did not meet the federal government’s initial eligibility requirements and had close to ties to the Liberal party and former fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Jonathan Wilkinson said his predecessor made the decision to cancel before he was shuffled out of the portfolio last month, and only after a series of discussions between the Five Nations Clam Company and the department.

The deal would have ended a 19-year monopoly on the Arctic clam fishery held by Clearwater Seafoods.

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(The Canadian Press)

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