[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 50 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SINKING OF THE F/V ``ARCTIC ROSE'' OFF THE COAST OF ALASKA

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to make note 
of the 15 people who have lost their lives in the waters off the coast 
of Alaska. On Tuesday, April 2 the U.S. Coast Guard received a distress 
signal from the vessel Arctic Rose. The Arctic Rose sank with all hands 
on board in the Bering sea, some 200 miles northwest of St. Paul 
Island. I would like to join my colleagues from the home states of 
these people to recognize those whose lives were lost in this tragic 
event, and would ask that their names be entered into the record.
  Aaron Brocker, Jimmy Conrad, Robert Foreman, Edward Haynes, G.W. 
Kandris, Kenneth Kivlin, Jeff Meinche, and Mike Olney, all from 
Washington. Kerry Egan from Minnesota. Angel Mendez from Texas. Michael 
Neureiter from California. Dave Rundall from Hawaii. Shawn Bouchard and 
James Mills from Montana. I am sure I join with all members of Congress 
and express our sincerest condolences to the families of these men.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to express my deep 
condolences to the family and friends of the 15 men who were aboard the 
Arctic Rose, which was lost at sea on April 2, 2001. On March 31, 2001, 
the trawl vessel left St. Paul Island, AK to fish for flathead sole in 
the Bering Sea. The boat was supposed to be at sea for about two weeks.
  Sometime during the early morning of April 2, however, something 
happened that caused the Arctic Rose to go down. We still don't know 
why the fishing vessel sank, but we know that 15 men lost their lives 
in pursuit of their livelihoods. Nine of these men were from Washington 
state, and all of them leave behind families, friends and coworkers. My 
thoughts are with the crewmen's loved ones, who are only beginning to 
cope with this tragedy. I also extend my condolences to the owner of 
the vessel, Mr. David Olney, to the employees of Arctic Sole Seafood, 
Inc., and to everyone who is part of this important industry.
  Most people are aware that fishing in the seas off Alaska is a 
dangerous occupation, but it still is a major shock when lives are lost 
at sea. We must continue our efforts to improve the safety of crews 
fishing in the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. One of the ways to 
improve safety is to allow the creation of individual fishing quotas, 
which guarantee catch to fishermen. This allows fishermen to wait for 
better weather before going out to sea. I have consistently supported 
using quotas as one tool to manage fisheries.
  Many of the Alaskan fishing seasons take place during the fall, 
winter and spring, when the weather is often severe. This business is 
inherently dangerous. The Arctic Rose had survival suits on board, but 
it seems the ship went down too quickly for most crewmen to even put 
them on. Nor were they able to get to the life raft. We should continue 
our efforts to improve the safety of commercial fishing in Alaska, and 
throughout the country, but I doubt we will ever be able to completely 
eliminate the hazards.
  The loss of the Arctic Rose reminds us of the risks commercial 
fishermen take every day to provide seafood enjoyed by so many people 
throughout the Northwest and world. Let's not take their work for 
granted. While we mourn the loss of the Arctic Rose, we should also 
thank the men and women who face these dangers every day to bring food 
to families across our country.

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