There are 350 licensed tuna fishermen on P.E.I. (CBC)The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association is considering filing a compensation claim with BP.
The oil company has a $20 billion fund set aside to pay fishermen, business owners and people whose livelihoods have been affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ed Frenette, executive director of the fishermen's association, said the spill will have long-term effects on P.E.I.'s bluefin tuna industry. The question is how severe those effects will be.
"The spawn this year in the Gulf of Mexico has already been affected," Frenette said. "We'll see the results of that commercially in eight to 10 years."
Frenette said it's less certain what will happen to adult fish now in the waters off P.E.I. and working their way back to the Gulf of Mexico.
"If they have to swim through all that oil and guck, and whatever else is there, will it have an effect on them and our ability to continue with the commercial fishery?"
There are 350 licensed tuna fishermen on P.E.I.
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