About 100 companies involved in snow-crab fishing in Quebec and New Brunswick have filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking $156 million.

The suit, filed in the Court of Queen's Bench in New Brunswick, contests the snow-crab management plan of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The plan covers the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and has been in place since 2003.

The suit also challenges the crab quotas reserved for aboriginal fishermen following the 1999 Marshall court decision on native fishing rights.

Snow crab (courtesy NOAA)
Snow crab (courtesy NOAA)

In May 2003, former Fisheries Minister Robert Thibault announced a 20 per cent reduction in the allowable snow-crab catch in the southern gulf. He also said 15 per cent of the new quota would be given to lobster fishermen.

It's been estimated the cuts would reduce the average crab fisherman's income by $20,000, or one-fifth of the average income.

Reaction to the quota announcement was violent.

In the New Brunswick fishing community of Shippagan, an angry mob destroyed a warehouse, a fish processing plant and the local fisheries department office. They also destroyed four fishing boats, three belonging to the department and the other owned by the Big Cove First Nation.

The department vessels had been assigned to members of native bands who planned to catch crab.