SEA-NL is calling for the resignation of the Executive Director of the Association of Seafood Producers.

SEA-NL says Derek Butler should resign after publicly criticizing the province’s snow crab resource.

Ryan Cleary, Executive Director of SEA-NL, says Butler publicly stated in an interview that the province’s snow crab is second-rate compared to product from the Maritimes, and worth about 30 per cent less.

Cleary says Butler’s statement shows poor judgment, and reflects poorly on what is, in fact, the best snow crab in the world. He says Butler “must no longer speak for the industry.”

Butler, meanwhile, is firing back at Cleary’s comments, saying he’s either being “dishonest” or that he has a “poor grasp of English.”

He highlights that NL crab has many different features from maritime crab and that the two have different cost structures.

He says this province’s product is “high value” and “delectable,” saying it is renowned for its taste and quality.

Butler’s full statement on the situation can be found below.

“Mr. Cleary is either being dishonest or has a poor grasp of English. NL crab is different in size and other features from Maritime crab, and that has been studied and reported on several times over the years. There are also different cost structures between the Maritimes and NL. NL snow crab remains a high value, delectable product and is renowned for taste and quality.” – Derek Butler