March 3, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council adds its condolences and gratitude to the family of Satya N. Nandan and to the Republic of Fiji on the passing last week of that country’s first diplomat to the United Nations.

Nandan’s long list of accomplishments includes not only playing an integral role in finalizing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, chairing the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Stocks (1993-95) and serving for nearly a quarter century as the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority but also serving as chairman of the Multilateral High-Level Conference (MHLC) on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific. As the local organizer of four of the seven MHLC sessions hosted by the United States, the Council worked intimately with Nandan. His wisdom, experience and diplomatic demeanor led to the successful signing of the Honolulu Convention on September 5, 2000, and the creation of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

“Nandan’s legacy is protection of the ocean and ocean communities worldwide, from the substrate to the highly migratory species, especially tuna, one of our planet’s greatest resources,” noted Kitty M. Simonds, Council executive director.

More about Nandan’s work with the MHLC can be found at http://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Monograph-2_2010_WCPFC_web-final.pdf.