A Kimberley-based commercial fisherman says environmental protection in Australia's Northern waters is pathetic.

Steve Hinge says the 10-week oil leak at a rig in the Timor Sea has been poorly managed and monitored.

He says because of fish life cycles in the region, it will be five years before the full impact is known, but the fact it leaked for so long is a disgrace.

"Peter Garrett's probably the most environmental Environment Minister we've ever had but I haven't seen or heard of him ... like the monitoring that at the moment is supposed to be happening," he said.

"I'm talking to some of the guys that are might to be doing it.

"They've got no idea how long it is going to go for, where it is going to happen, when it is going to stop and who we give the information to.

"It is just, I think, a bit of lip service."