January 10, 2021 — The following was released by The Pacific Fishery Management Council:

This week we mourn the passing of our friend, colleague, and former Chairman, Donald Hansen.

Don was a towering figure in the world of U.S. West Coast fisheries, playing an immense role in the work of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council or Council) and in the development of several fisheries off the West Coast. His impact and influence stretched well beyond the West Coast and helped shape fisheries policy across the U.S. and beyond.

He was a strong proponent of the regional fisheries management council process. He was an especially strong proponent of local stakeholders and the idea that local people and local context should shape fishery policy decisions.

Don touched the professional and personal lives of thousands of people engaged in West Coast fisheries, and was sought after as a source of vision, leadership, institutional knowledge, as a trusted advisor, and a friend. Don never lost sight of the fact that fisheries policy decisions affect people, while at the same time advocating for the wise use and conservation of West Coast marine resources.

“Our coastal communities have benefited greatly from Don Hansen’s decades of passion for West Coast fisheries,” said Marc Gorelnik, Chairman of the Pacific Council. “His knowledge, his friendship and humor, his dedication to the Council process, and his steady hand will be sorely missed.”

Throughout the course of his tenure with the Pacific Council, Don engaged in fishery management decision-making that began with the Council’s second-ever meeting in the 1970s, included membership of the Groundfish Advisory Panel (1981-2000), as a member of the Pacific Council (2000 – 2009), as Chairman of the Council (2003 – 2009), and as Special Assistant to the Pacific Council’s Executive Director (2009 – 2018). After his official tenure with the Council ended, he continued to be a trusted friend, ally, and advisor to subsequent Council Chairs and Executive Directors until his passing.

“Don’s passion for the Council was enduring,” said Merrick Burden, Executive Director of the Council. “Many of us benefited from his friendship, leadership and mentorship during our career.”

In addition to being an astute leader and visionary, Don was perhaps best known for his collegiality, desire to help, and his good humor. Don was known as someone that always appreciated a good joke, as a man that could always find a silver lining, and as someone who could always find time to pay attention to the needs of other people and their well-being.

His extraordinary impact on the people, wildlife, and process of the Pacific Council will remain for many years.

We will miss him dearly.