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CORVALLIS - A retired Oregon State University researcher has earned an Individual Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Institute of Fisheries Research - the 17th such award given in the organization's 50-year history.

William Pearcy, an OSU professor emeritus of oceanic and atmospheric sciences, was awarded an engraved totem fish plaque by Clark Hubbs, research institute president. Pearcy joined OSU in 1960, having received his doctorate from Yale University that same year.

Pearcy is an expert on Pacific salmon and has published more than 140 scientific papers on ecology, oceanography and general science, including biology of deep-sea fish and investigation of pollution and trace metals in the environment and the food chain.

He was recently appointed by Gov. John Kitzhaber as one of seven members of the Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team, charged with auditing implementation of Oregon's Coastal Salmon Restoration Initiative.

He has also been the major adviser to more than 30 graduate students in both master's and doctoral programs, and has served on the committees of more than 50 other students.

About 1,000 fishery scientists are members of the institute, which works to advance the theory and practice of fishery science.