STONINGTON – A partnership between a local seafood company and another based in Canada has been dissolved abruptly, but little is being said publicly about the sudden split.

Barry Group Inc., which has its headquarters in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, issued a vague press release earlier this month in which it said its 15-month partnership with Sunshine Seafood Maine LLC has been “not been a success for various reasons” and that it has “no choice” but to sever ties with the Stonington company.

The Canadian firm, which markets and sells Seafreez and Ocean Leader brand products, indicated in the release that Sunshine Seafood has tried to restructure itself but that because of “certain difficult economic and market conditions” those efforts have failed.

Marianne Eaton, a manager with Sunshine Seafood, said Tuesday that the company is a family-run business that, technically, has no employees. “We are back in business,” she said.

Eaton, citing advice from the company’s attorney, declined further comment about the company or its partnership with Barry Group.

Several recent attempts to contact Sunshine Seafood’s attorney, George Eaton of Bangor, about the dissolved partnership have been unsuccessful. It was unclear whether the attorney is related to Marianne Eaton and Sunshine Seafood’s owners.

Attempts Tuesday to contact Barry Group official Darrin O’Quinn, who is listed as the contact name on the company’s press release, also were unsuccessful.

In the release, Barry Group Inc. promised that all employees, fishermen and suppliers will be compensated for services rendered to Sunshine Seafood before Nov. 11, either by Sunshine Seafood or by Barry Group.

According to Barry Group Inc.’s Web site, the company was founded in Newfoundland in 1854 and exports shellfish, groundfish and other seafood products to Europe, Japan and the United States. It has processing plants in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and in 2001 expanded operations to Iceland.