THREATS of legal action by commercial fisherman for compensation over the West Atlas oil spill were premature until wildlife loss could be confirmed.

Kimberley fishermen have warned they will take the well head's operator, PTTEP Australasia, to court if it is found the sweet light crude oil leaking into the Timor Sea has damaged the Northern Demersal Scalefish Fishery.

They have also said they would take action against the Australian Maritime Safety Authority if it was found the dispersants used to break up the spill were hurting marine life.

Fishermen have reported finding sea snakes and turtles covered in an oily substance in the area around the drill rig, 250km off Western Australia's far north coast.

But Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association chief executive Belinda Robinson said any claims needed to be checked first.

"At the moment, we're not aware of any incidents of the fishery being affected by the oil spill," she said.

"But anyone who sees any evidence should be providing that to the authorities so it can be handled and dealt with as quickly as possible."

She said it was too early to talk of legal action.

"I think it's premature. At this stage, the industry's not aware of any impact on fisheries, so it seems a little early to be making claims of compensation."

The fishery takes in all West Australian waters east of longitude 120, which crosses the coast about 150km east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara.

It extends to the edge of Australia's fishing zone, 200 nautical miles out to sea.

The seven commercial fishing boats that operate in the area come from Broome, Darwin and Port Hedland and catch mainly red emperor, goldband and other coral trout and cod, in a fishery worth $8 million a year.

Kimberley Professional Fisherman's Association secretary Bob Masters said the spill was in the middle of the northern part of the fishery. PTTEP had said it would pay AMSA for clean-up costs and nothing else.

"What worries me there is if there is more damage than the clean-up, potential future damages to fish stocks and the marine environment which would have a very large effect on our income," Mr Masters said. "Then there's the potential damage to our brand of the pristine, clean Kimberley fish from the area."