Kingfisher Information Service - Cable Awareness

Cable Awareness
KIS-CA Project

Introduction

Commercial fishing is the most dangerous occupation in Europe. In the UK for example, typically some 20 to 25 fishermen are killed in fishing accidents each year, which is many times greater than in other industries. The two major seabed exploiting industries, other than fishing, in north western European waters are oil and gas exploration and production and the submarine telecommunication cable industry. In an attempt to reduce accidents, interaction has been established between fishermen and offshore operators to ensure mutual understanding of respective industries is established.

Over the past decade there has been a huge increase in the number of submarine cables being installed. Although the dangers to fishing have been emphasised above, it should also be noted that fishing gear can cause severe damage to submarine cables - resulting not only in expensive repairs but also disrupted communications and lost revenue.

Prior to the creation of this KISCA project only limited success had been achieved by some operators co-operating to improve general awareness of their activities. Therefore, to protect their individual interests, many companies published (and will rightly continue to publish) flyers, other ad-hoc material and also notices were published on the Kingfisher Fortnightly Bulletin to alert fishermen of the routes of their cables.

Against this background, and in an effort to improve general co-operation between north west European cable owners / operators and fishermen, the UK Cable Protection Committee (UKCPC) was formed to supplement the global work of the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC).


KIS-CA Project

Kingfisher a department within the Sea Fish Industry Authority are now undertaking the third phase of the successful KIS-CA project aimed at improving safety to fishermen and protection of submarine cables. This 4 year phase which started on 1st January 2005, is a continuation of the previous stages of the project which initially commenced on 1st January 2000.

The waters covered by the project are extensive - the North Sea, English Channel (La Manche), Bristol Channel/Southwest Approaches, Irish Sea and West of Scotland (i.e. ICES Areas IV, VII and VI) - and therefore include cables between the coasts of Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Ireland and the UK.

Fishermen are able to receive information of cable routes and other physical details (e.g. repeaters, splices, etc), together with emergency contact numbers and procedures in two formats:

1. Paper charts - The production and distribution, free of charge to fishermen, of annual updated cable awareness charts. These are divided into six areas around the UK and show in-service and recently out-of-service cables.

2. Electronic format - The production and free distribution of this data in electronic format, compatible with the most common fishing plotter systems including Litton Fishmaster, TMPlanner/Quodfish, Sodena, Trax, Maxsea, SIS Microplot, Winfish, Penta and Transas Navifish 3000 systems.

The data is also available for download over the Internet - both in readable text/graphic form as pdf files, and as files ready encrypted for the supported plotter systems. The final objective is the free distribution of the data, in the most useable form, to all relevant fishing vessels working in the waters covered.

Within the UK, both the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) are assisting with the local distribution of charts and discs, with Kingfisher organising physical distribution to the rest of Europe, Internet distribution, and the issue of licenses to electronic charting companies.

In addition, Kingfisher, Seafish is actively promoting both the KIS-CA project and cable awareness generally by attending the major fishing exhibitions throughout Europe, at which cable awareness information is available. Cable awareness packs are also available to the Seafish supported network of Group Training Associations (GTA's), who are responsible for organising fishermen's safety training in the UK, and any similar organisations in mainland Europe.
This project has been part financed by the European Union. The grant was awarded by the Marine & Fisheries Agency.