Crab captains among those charged in 2003 riot

Five crab boat captains are among 11 men accused of burning boats and destroying property in a 2003 Shippagan, N.B., rampage that occurred in response to a change in Ottawa's crab fishing rules.

OnMay 4, 2003, anangry, drunkenmob roamed the streets of Shippagan lighting fires, destroying crab boats and a fish plant.

The riot generated headlines across the country.

The men and women involved were protesting the federal government's decision to reduce the region's quotas in the snow crab fishery, which is the most lucrative catch on the East Coast.

The protesters were furious that Ottawa hadordered traditional crabbers to share 15 per cent of the remainder of the catch with inshore lobster fishermen. The federal decision made permanent a 1999 decision that granted lobster fishermen a temporary share of the catch as a way to reduce pressure on the lobster stock.

Criminal charges took three years

Most of the riot took place in full view of police officers, some of whom videotaped the action. Butnobody was arrestedon thenight of the riot, and it took three yearsof interviewing more than 1,000 people for criminal charges to be laid.

The first ofthose police believe are responsible for the mayhem were formally charged inTracadie-Sheila Thursday afternoon.

Judge Yvette Finn moved quickly through the files that included a total of 20 charges. Five of the11men facing criminal charges are crab boat captains, includingValois Goupil, Jean Pierre Hach, Levi Noel,Marcel Noel and Gaetan Hach.

The men are charged with a variety of offences, including assaulting a police officer, breaking and entering, arson, taking part in a riot and vandalism for damage to federal fisheries vessels.

The judge adjourned the cases until later this fall.Another 17 accused are due to appear in Tracadie-Sheila court on Friday.