At least that's what a class-action lawsuit filed by two Oregon commercial fishermen alleges Pacific Seafood Group with doing as it grew into one of the largest seafood companies in North America.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Medford, Ore., asserts Clackamas, Ore.-based Pacific, under CEO Frank Dulcich (pictured), has created conditions that force fishermen to accept the low prices the company offers to pay for Dungeness crab, groundfish, Pacific whiting, and Pacific coldwater shrimp.
"Pacific Seafood Group's monopolization of these four West Coast seafood input markets is so entrenched and pervasive that substantial injunctive relief is necessary to restore a free and competitive market in each of these input markets," said the lawsuit, which seeks up to $520 million (€423 million) in damages and penalties.
The
