DFO fears BP spill impact on tuna fishery
Meets with P.E.I. fishermen to discuss effect on North Atlantic tuna stocks
Last Updated: Friday, July 9, 2010 | 11:16 PM AT
CBC News
Workers cleaning up the BP oil spill outnumber tourists on the beach in Pensacola Beach, Fla., Wednesday. (Dave Martin/Associated Press)Federal officials met with P.E.I. fisherman Friday to discuss the potential impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Canada's share of the North Atlantic tuna fishery.
Bluefin tuna spawns in the Gulf of Mexico before migrating to Canada, meaning the environmental disaster in the Gulf caused by the blow out of a BP oil well could affect stocks north of the U.S.-Canada border.
P.E.I. fishermen and officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) met Friday in Stanhope, P.E.I.
The meeting was initially called to plan for Canada's share of bluefin tuna stocks in the future, but fisheries scientists are also looking for signs of damage to North Atlantic tuna populations.
There are 350 fishermen on P.E.I. licensed to catch North Atlantic tuna, which could be affected by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (CBC)The oil spill, and how it affects tuna, will be a big part of the Atlantic quota negotiations this fall, said Faith Scattolon, DFO's regional director general for the Maritimes.
P.E.I. fishermen will be among the Canadian officials helping to decide quotas later this year at an international conference in Paris.
The BP-leased drilling rig Deepwater Horizon exploded when an oil well off the coast of Louisiana blew out on April 20, killing 11 crew members and leading to the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
The broken well has so far spewed between 325 million and 640 million litres of oil, according to U.S. government estimates.
Impact goes 'beyond tuna': DFO
Scattolon said federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, the MP for Egmont, P.E.I., is extremely concerned about the spill's impact on Canada's fish and wildlife, which could extend beyond just tuna.
"There are concerns, of course, of migratory birds that migrate from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico," Scattolon said.
Shea is consulting with advisers about what legal recourse Canada might have, Scattolon said.
"At this point, we're investigating what the way forward might be from the Canadian perspective," said Scattolon.
After years of decline, Canada's bluefin tuna are making a comeback, Scattolon said.
"We're quite optimistic that we're continuing to manage this fishery well, and we'll continue to build on the recovery trajectory that we're currently on," she said.
The Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association have discussed filing a claim over the spill. Tuna fishermen rejected suggestions such a claim would be premature.
"We just want to protect ourselves in case down the road, five, six, seven, eight years' time, the tuna's done, the fishery's closed because of this oil spill," said Walter Bruce, speaking for the association.
"What recourse do we have? We just want to be in there with a notice of claim so that if something does happen in the future, our fishermen would be looked after."
Corrections and Clarifications
- The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is not considering legal action against BP at this time, as previously reported. July 9, 2010 | 10:00 p.m. ET
Share Tools
Latest Prince Edward Island News Headlines
- Liquor store discussion heats up legislature
- The Opposition raised questions in the provincial legislature Friday over the decision to close the Wood Islands liquor store. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- While reaction continues to brew over Thursday's announcement about changes to the Employment Insurance program, P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says provincial officials will be meeting with the federal government to discuss how the new rules will affect Islanders. more »
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- Although the proposed harmonized sales tax is good for business, it will hit low-income Islanders the hardest when it's rung in next April, said economists. more »
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Charlottetown's Fred Hyndman was inducted as a member of the Order of Canada Friday. more »
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The husband of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest on Saturday says his family is not seeking government help to cover the cost of bringing his wife's body home. more »
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she is not happy with the RCMP decision to transfer a disgraced Alberta Mountie to the West Coast. more »
- Henrique's OT goal sends Devils into Stanley Cup final
- The New Jersey Devils will vie for a potential fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern final, courtesy of rookie Adam Henrique's goal early in overtime. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
- New home buyers will pay more on P.E.I.
- Liquor store discussion heats up legislature
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- P.E.I. quality of life second-worst, says study
- 902 numbers running out in N.S., P.E.I.
- Job Wanted: Sara Brehaut
- Tourism P.E.I. handed out $60,000 in free golf passes
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest

