Remembering Victor Escobar

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Victor Escobar.

Victor was a stalwart of the OSPAR Commission for many years. He entered on to the OSPAR stage in 1995 as Head of the Spanish delegation to OSPAR’s Programmes and Measures Committee (PRAM), and from 1997-2000 he served as Chair of PRAM. He remained Head of Delegation to PRAM’s successor - OSPAR’s Hazardous Substances Committee.

Victor served as Vice-chair of the OSPAR Commission from 2001-2006. From 2006, he continued to follow OSPAR’s work, until his election as Chair of the Commission in 2010. In his acceptance speech he acknowledged the challenging nature of OSPAR’s future agenda and OSPAR’s strengths and ability to produce effective results. It is in large measure due to Victor’s efforts that OSPAR made huge strides with respect to protection and conservation of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic during his tenure as Chair which ended in 2016.

Victor once again dedicated time and effort to OSPAR’s cause by chairing OSPAR’s Strategy Task Group (STG) in 2018-2020. STG laid the groundwork for the development of a new Strategy for the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic to guide the work to implement the OSPAR Convention in the period to 2030.

The OSPAR community remembers Victor with much fondness and respect for his skill as a Chair. His in-depth knowledge of OSPAR’s work and history, his pragmatic approach, and his drive brought people to achieve high levels of ambition to further OSPAR’s work. He is also remembered for his warmth and humour. He will be sadly missed.