Opposition is mounting to calls from residents of St. Mary’s Bay who want a crab processing licence for the local plant.

A demonstration was held in St. Mary’s Thursday by residents who want to see the local fish plant reopened. New owners have pumped money into the facility to upgrade and modernize it, now all they need is a processing licence.

That’s not sitting well with some other processors and workers.

A demonstration was held at the Barry Group plant in Port de Grave this morning, with people shouting “no more licences” and carrying signs saying “You are giving away our work”.

Another protest is planned at the Independent Fish Harvesters facility in Brigus Friday afternoon.

Brigus fish plant General Manager Graham Hiscock says issuing another licence will only take resource away from other plants.

“We’re all drawing from the same resource” says Hiscock, “it’s not like he’s generating new crab to be processed in his plant that’s not already being harvested…he’s basically going to take supply from other plants, to put into his plant.”