A former official with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission has become the seventh executive director of the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
David Wilson, whose appointment was announced previously, joined the IPHC in August, succeeding Bruce Leaman, who had held the position for 19 years.
Leaman leaves a legacy of expanded data collection, innovation in assessment and scientific advice, standardization of operations, and sound fiscal practice that have helped keep the IPHC in the forefront of fisheries management, the IPHC said.
Wilson most recently served as the interim executive secretary of the IOTC.
Wilson’s work with the IOTC gave him a wide range of experience in international and domestic fisheries management and administration. He also held various positions with the Australian government, and earned a doctorate from James Cook University in Australia in association with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
