The Oregon Fishermen’s Cable Committee (OFCC) is a liaison group comprising trawl fishermen and owners of submarine fiber-optic cables that land on the Oregon coastline. Its mission is to promote communication, coordination and cooperation between the fishing industry and the owners and installers of undersea cables in the Oregon fishing grounds. As a result of its outreach activities, cable owners and the commercial fishing fleet working off the coast of Oregon share something truly unique – a relationship built on mutual respect.

A cable owner realizes myriad benefits by partnering with the OFCC. Foremost is the protection of the owner’s asset, the undersea fiber-optic cable. This is due to the Oregon trawl fishing fleet being perhaps the most “cable aware” in the world.

Informed and Involved Fleet

The OFCC regularly holds port meetings along the Oregon coast to educate the entire trawl fleet about new developments regarding undersea cables in the fishing grounds safe fishing operation around cables and to promote membership in the organization. These meetings have historically been very well attended.

When a fisherman signs an Individual Fisherman’s Agreement (IFA) to join the OFCC, he is legally bound to comply with the Procedures to Follow While Operating Near Submarine Fiber Optic Cables, a comprehensive set of guidelines for fishing safely near undersea cables. In return, the IFA grants him protection from being sued for inadvertent damage to member cables and assures him of timely gear replacement should he have to sacrifice his gear to protect a cable. Through this arrangement, the fishermen are motivated to stay informed about cables in their fishing grounds and the undersea cables are treated with care and respect.

As of January 13, 2005, 67% of the US West coast trawl fleet with permits to fish in the area are OFCC members. Furthermore, ?% of the fishermen whose homeports are within 100 miles of member cables are OFCC members. Through the OFCC, fishermen from the entire west coast participated in the installation of member cables, creating a sense of “ownership” of the cables amongst the fleet. OFCC fishermen have notified boats that arrive from out of the area, advising them of the location of the cable and the recommended safety procedures for fishing near cables.

Excellent Installations

Another benefit to cable owners is the involvement of OFCC fishermen in the route planning and installation processes. OFCC fishermen have contributed their extensive knowledge of the sea floor during route planning and surveying. As a result, cable owners working with the OFCC have achieved a phenomenal cable burial record off the Oregon coast. The OFCC has been involved in the route planning of six undersea cables. With over 500 km of cable crossing the fishing grounds, the burial percentage is at an unprecedented 99.957%.

As stated by Rob Munier, Managing Director of Global System Sales for
Tyco Telecommunications, Inc. in a publication for the attendees at the Pacific Telecom 2005 conference:

“I think that the OFCC has been very successful in getting the highest quality sets of installations anywhere in the world because of the interactive nature and the obligation that we feel as people working together.”

Ease of Permitting Process

Furthermore, working with the OFCC can further expedite Oregon’s streamlined permit process. Oregon state and federal officials have supported our cooperative approach. Permits for cable projects using the cooperative approach in Oregon have been issued in with time frames of about seven months to less than two months.

Summary

Joining the Oregon Fishermen’s Cable Committee makes smart business sense for a cable owner landing in Oregon. OFCC membership enables the cable owner to enjoy positive, productive relations with a concerned and informed fishing fleet. The involvement of OFCC members can facilitate a extraordinary burial rate in the cable installation. In addition, OFCC support can ease the permit process. To quote Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski,

“As chair of the State Land Board, which must approve easements for cable landings on the coast, I can assure you that we welcome, and will continue to give full and speedy consideration to, all future requests.

I also can assure you that staff from the Department of State Lands, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and other involved state agencies will work in partnership with submarine cable companies and the Oregon fishing fleet.

. . . Working together is the best way to keep this unique partnership healthy and strong.”