WHEREAS, The Washington state commercial fishing fleet begins leaving in March for the Pacific and Alaskan waters, and the Blessing of the Fleet will occur March 15, 2015, at Fisherman's Terminal in Ballard; and

WHEREAS, This is the 87th year that the Ballard First Lutheran Church has held the blessing and the 19th year that Pastor Erik Wilson Weiberg has offered the blessing; and

WHEREAS, The Washington state commercial fishing fleet begins leaving Blaine waters in May, and this is the 32nd year that the Blessing of the Fleet will occur in Blaine Harbor, this year at Blaine Boating Center on May 3, 2015; and

WHEREAS, The Washington state commercial fishing fleet begins leaving Bellingham waters in May, and this is the 40th year that the Blessing of the Fleet will occur in Bellingham, this year at Zuanich Point Park in Squalicum Harbor on May 16, 2015; and

WHEREAS, The Washington state commercial fishing fleet is one of the world's largest distant water fleets; and

WHEREAS, The commercial fishing industry directly and indirectly employs thousands of people and is one of the largest industries in Washington state; and

WHEREAS, The harvest annually contributes significantly to the Washington state economy; and

WHEREAS, The life of a fisher is fraught with danger and hardship that most people will never face, as a fisher chooses to work on the sea, braving the elements in order to harvest the ocean's resources; and

WHEREAS, The men and women who work on fishing boats, at times in dangerous circumstances, deserve our admiration, thanks, and, when tragedy strikes, our remembrance; and

WHEREAS, Too often fishers lose their lives, devastating not only the close-knit community of fishing families in our region, but also our entire state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate extend its condolences to the families and friends of all our fishers who have lost their lives at sea, wish the entire commercial fishing fleet a safe and prosperous season, and express its hope that all of our fishers will return home safely to their families, friends, and communities.

I, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8636,

adopted by the Senate

March 13, 2015

HUNTER G. GOODMAN

Secretary of the Senate