CPM is investigating allegations of price-fixing in the Florida seafood industry. CPM understands that five Florida-based companies, including seafood wholesaler D&D Seafood Co., have conspired to suppress and fix the prices paid to fishermen for stone crab claws and spiny lobsters harvested in Florida.
These practices may have caused fishermen to receive artificially low prices for their harvests, resulting in significant economic harm.
Allegations Under Investigation
CPM’s investigation centers on claims that five Florida seafood companies colluded to depress, fix, and stabilize prices for stone crab claws and spiny lobsters purchased from fishermen between 2023 and 2025. The companies allegedly communicated through meetings, phone calls, and text messages to coordinate pricing and ensure compliance with the price-fixing scheme.
Evidence suggests that this conspiracy deprived fishermen in Florida of the benefits of competitive pricing, suppressing their earnings and enabling seafood companies to manipulate the market. This investigation seeks to uncover the full scope of the alleged conduct and its economic impact on fishermen.
Seeking Fishermen Class Representatives
CPM is seeking fishermen who harvested stone crab claws and spiny lobsters in Florida, including the Gulf of America and Florida Keys, and sold their harvest to D&D Seafood Co. or other seafood wholesalers between 2023 and 2025. It is important to note that a fisherman is only required to have sold its harvest to one of the defendants (in other words, it is not required to have sold its harvest to all defendants) to be a class representative. The fisherman would help CPM pursue a class action on behalf of affected fishermen in federal court—likely the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
If you are a fisherman in Florida who sold stone crab claws or spiny lobsters to D&D Seafood Co. or other seafood wholesalers during this period and are interested in representing the class, please complete the form below. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your potential participation and recovery.
