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OIL & GAS UK FISHERIES LIAISON BACKGROUND BRIEFING INTRODUCTION The fishing and oil and gas industries have shared the use of waters around Britain for more than three decades and over the years, there has been much co-operation and mutual support between the two industries. Oil companies have helped evacuate injured or sick crew to shore while many a stricken vessel has been provided with spare parts and assistance in repairs to enable it to return to port or continue fishing. Offshore personnel are also known to have despatched vessels with fresh fuel supplies when fishing vessels have run out at sea. However, the Industry recognises that there are circumstances where its offshore activities do impact on fishing activity and that there may be potential risks for the unwary. Safety is of primary concern. Through the work of its Fisheries Liaison Committee and Seismic Acquisition Sub Committee, Oil & Gas UK has, over the years, taken positive steps to develop methods and systems which allow the fishing and oil industries to work safely and efficiently together as well as to promote harmonious working relations between the two industries. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK PON 14 The activities of the oil and gas industry in the UK are set in a legal framework of Acts and Regulations. The Petroleum Operations Notices (PONs) outline in detail the requirements of Licensees to fulfil these obligations, whilst undertaking certain exploration, appraisal and development programmes on their licences. PON 14 lays down the notification requirements before survey operations are initiated. A minimum of 28 days notice of proposed seismic activity is required in most cases, although there may be fishery sensitive areas where licences would specify a longer notification period. The Notice also sets out a minimum distribution list to whom notification must be circulated. This includes the Kingfisher Bulletin. Fisheries Liaison As a condition of licensing awards, operators have been required since the early 1980s to appoint a Fisheries Liaison Officer to liaise with relevant Government departments and fishing organisations on issues relating to their exploration and production activities. Special Conditions Where necessary, special conditions can be laid down in exploration and production licences, which reflect the sensitivities of a particular fishing zone. Licences can, for example, exclude certain activities at specific times of the year, such as during spawning. New Construction Before Public Works Authorisation is given for any new construction (ie platform, pipeline or subsea installation), operators must consult with fishermen whose views are taken into account in the decision to allow work to proceed. FISHERIES LIAISON Oil & Gas UK meets regularly with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) and the National Federation of Fishing Organisations (NFFO). Oil & Gas UK also participates in the Fisheries and Offshore Oil Consultative Group (FOOCG), involving the DTI and the fisheries organisations, at monthly meetings chaired by the Scottish Office. Liaison is handled via the Oil & Gas UK Fisheries Liaison Committee and Seismic Acquisition Sub Committee. Individual members also liaise regularly with the various fisheries organisations. Oil & Gas UK workshops and conferences. Oil & Gas UK Guidelines for Fisheries Liaison (recently revised). Fishing '99: Oil & Gas UK will be exhibiting for the first time at this major annual event in Glasgow at the beginning of March. The offshore industry frequently engages fishermen as Fisheries Liaison Representatives, while fishing boats may find additional employment as guard vessels during seismic survey operations. RECENT INITIATIVES There are two distinct areas which call for close liaison between the two industries if serious disruption to the operations of either industry is to be avoided: seismic surveying activity and the potential risk to fishing vessel navigation due to subsea installations. SEISMIC SURVEYS The Industry has long highlighted the importance of assessing potential impacts of proposed seismic activity on fisheries, and of consulting extensively with the relevant local fishermen's organisations well in advance and in the immediate run-up to the survey. Last autumn a seminar attended by fishermen, operators and seismic contractors was organised by Oil & Gas UK. A number of issues were raised and are currently being addressed in an on-going dialogue. These are: How to enhance communication between the seismic and fishing industries regarding notification and timings of surveys. The interaction between fishing vessels and seismic vessels at sea, in particular in adverse weather conditions and in the interpretation of collision regulations. Other initiatives include: CD-Rom - "How to plan seismic acquisition on the UKCS": currently being developed by Hydrosearch Associates Ltd and funded jointly by Oil & Gas UK and the International Association of Geophysical Contractors. Available from April 1999, it is being designed for use by seismic contractors and operators as the definitive tool to ensure that all statutory requirements regarding the planning and execution of seismic surveys are fully met. It will provide checklists covering statutory notification procedures as well as guidance on consultation. It will also hold a database of all licences issued on the UKCS which have restrictions and conditions relating to fisheries activity. One day training course for Fisheries Liaison Officers, sponsored by Oil & Gas UK and scheduled for later this year. SUBSEA INSTALLATIONS Pipelines The fatal accident involving MV Westhaven in 1997 reinforced the necessity for the Industry and the fishing industry to work closely together to promote safety at sea. A number of new initiatives have subsequently been launched. These include: Revisions to the warnings on marine charts to stress the potential hazards to fishing vessels and the high priority that safety takes. The commissioning of a study on pipeline spans to establish the scale of the issue in relation to fishing activity. Identification of areas where spanning is most likely to occur and the interaction of fishing gear with sizes of spanning will help to assess the safety risks. A safety information campaign targeting fishermen to draw attention to the dangers of trawlboards being caught under pipelines and the actions to be taken if snagging occurs. Launch imminent. Revisions to Oil & Gas UK "Fisheries Liaison Guidelines" to incorporate new procedures for dealing with vessels coming fast on subsea equipment and for the consideration of subsequent claims for compensation. Suspended wellheads Suspended wellheads are known to present a snagging hazard to fishermen, which is evidenced by the amount of fishing gear and nets that are found on the wellheads or in the proximity. To mitigate against this hazard, fishermen are provided with detailed co-ordinates of each suspended well published in the "Yellow Card", with fortnightly bulletin updates. This publication is a joint venture instigated in February 1990 by Oil & Gas UK and the Scottish Office and is widely distributed to the fishing industry. However, in 1997, in response to growing pressure from the fishing lobby to reduce significantly the number of suspended wellheads on the UKCS (some 400 at the time), the Industry established a work group to deal with the issue. To date, the Industry has: Established a comprehensive database confirming ownership and categorising the technical condition and future requirements for each suspended well. This database will be updated annually. Instigated a programme of abandonment which seeks to reduce the number of suspended wells. Current trends would suggest a reduction of 100 is possible in two years with significant further reductions feasible by the end of 2006. Adopted the principle, encouraged by the DTI, that wells over six years of age should either be abandoned or have activity leading to development. Removed 30 suspended wellheads in just over 6 months. The Industry is also reviewing the possibilities of operators sharing vessels and rigs to pursue common well abandonment programmes. Subsea facilities These largely refer to manifolds which are used to connect pipelines together. The largest are well in excess of the size of a double decker bus and may cover the area of half a football pitch. There is a 500 metre exclusion zone around most of these. OTHER INITIATIVES Electronic Charting Project To improve navigational safety for fishermen, Oil & Gas UK is contributing significant funding towards a Seabed Information Service which the Seafish Industry Authority of the UK has developed and manages. The Seafish Industry Authority through Seafish Technology (Kingfisher) has undertaken to establish and maintain a service regularly providing information about offshore oil and gas installations and industry activities for the benefit of fishing skippers. This information augments existing navigation charts covering the UKCS, and is available to fishing skippers of any nationality who are legally entitled to fish in UK waters. The resulting information, which is provided in digital format suitable for use in electronic chart systems, together with regular bulletin amendments, defines the position and nature of permanent offshore installations which may be a potential hazard to fishing vessels or their gear. Source information comes from Oil & Gas UK Members, co-ordinated by the Surveying and Positioning Committee, who provide data in an easily used format on a regular basis. Relevant information includes: fixed structures and seabed installations; floating production systems (FPSOs); pipelines; flowlines. The work is being carried out in phases and will build up over three years to provide a comprehensive overview of offshore activity on the UKCS. UK waters will be divided into sectors and a Steering Group, including representatives of the fishing federations as well as the oil industry will determine priorities. FISHERMEN'S COMPENSATION FUND The Oil & Gas UK Fishermen's Compensation Fund was established in 1974. A Management Committee selected solely by the fishing organisations administers the Fund on behalf of Oil & Gas UK. Compensation is restricted to lost or damaged gear, loss of fishing time or damage to a vessel caused by oil-related debris which cannot be attributed to a particular Operator. Payment of compensation is restricted to incidents involving British fishing vessels whilst fishing within the areas subject to the UK offshore licensing regime. Where debris can be identified as resulting from the operations of a particular oil company or its contractors, the oil company may have a moral, if not a legal, responsibility to compensate a fisherman for any loss incurred. Since 1989, £1.78 million has been paid out in compensation to fishermen through the Fund. For further information, please contact: Trisha O'Reilly, Oil & Gas UK Communications Team on Tel: 0171 802 2422/2400, e-mail her at toreilly@oilandgasuk.co.uk