P.E.I. tuna fishermen want remaining quota

The remaining portion of the Atlantic tuna quota should be given to P.E.I. fishermen while there's still a chance for it to be caught, says an industry representative.

The Island quota was reached on Sep. 4. Ed Frenette, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association is calling on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to re-open the season immediately.

"It's money for the fishermen, those who catch tuna. The other thing is to ensure that the Canadian quota is caught in its totality," said Frenette.

"There are meetings coming up in Croatia, of all places, in November that will probably determine the international quotas for the next three years, and we argue that if the Canadian quota is not caught in full, we could suffer a decline in the future."

There are more than 350 tonnes of quota remaining.

Frenette said requests have been made to the federal fisheries minister, regional managers at DFO, and P.E.I. officials in Ottawa, but so far there has been no response.