Stepping in to avert a potential monopoly, a federal judge has granted commercial fishermen a preliminary injunction to block Pacific Seafood Group from acquiring Ocean Gold Seafoods.

The fishermen have alleged that Pacific Seafood would have a monopoly over the groundfish, whiting and coldwater shrimp markets if it acquires Ocean Gold, a large fish processor in Westport, Wash.

The ruling Friday by Judge Owen Panner in U.S. District Court in Medford came after the Oregon Attorney General’s office described the potential merger as “presumptively unlawful given the degree of market concentration.”

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