The WDAFS Award of Excellence is the most prestigious award offered by the Division. It is intended to recognize sustained professional excellence, outstanding achievement, and exceptional competence in Fisheries resource applications. While there are a number of fisheries scientists who are deserving of the Award of Excellence, Dr. Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki stands out as one of the most effective and influential members of our profession.

Dr. Sosa began his career in Mexico in 1977 as a Research Assistant and biology instructor. In 1985 he traveled to Japan and began his graduate studies at the University of Tokyo. He earned his Masters in 1987 and completed his PhD from the Department of Fisheries in 1990. His thesis brought to bare important issues concerning the status of Pacific Swordfish. His works show a wide range of interests in fishery resources and marine ecology. Dr. Sosa is currently senior professor at the Centro de Investigación Centifica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Mexico where he is Chair of the Department of Ecology and Coordinator for the Fisheries Ecology Group.

During his 26 year career, Dr. Sosa has been an outstanding leader in the fisheries profession. He is a member of a variety of professional societies and has held numerous leadership positions within CICESE, National Institute of Fisheries (INP) and in several international organizations including the American Fisheries Society, Japanese Fisheries Society, World Fisheries Congress, MEXUS Pacifico and American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists. He is an influential member of many committees and fishery management advisory panels and has distinguished himself at numerous conferences and symposiums. He has over 30 publications in fisheries science and related fields and earned national and international awards for his contributions. Dr. Sosa has demonstrated his ongoing commitment to higher education by serving on the graduate committees of more than 35 MS and PhD students at CICESE. Many of these graduates are now working in fisheries and marine ecosystems and are helping to manage Mexico’s fisheries. Dr. Sosa has led and participated in numerous continuing education programs to provide fisheries and marine professionals with the skills needed to be more effective in their field.

Dr. Sosa has also been leader of international renown in research on the ecology of marine ecosystems in the Eastern tropical and temperate Pacific and in the Gulf of California. His interests include reproductive biology, genetics, osmoregulation in sharks, age and growth, and the effects of El Nino on fisheries. His guidance concerning the importance of collecting and quantifying fishery data in Mexico including his efforts to improve and standardize data collection protocols within the Department of Fisheries in Mexico has vastly improved data quality. His interest in ecosystem-based management and conservation of fishery stocks within the Gulf of California has facilitated the description of fisheries for demersal and pelagic species. His work in recovery planning, and related topics has significantly advanced our understanding and management needs in the Gulf of California. He has also helped to guide the management of pelagic billfish and sharks through a series of landmark publications. These multiple and sustained contributions to the fisheries profession make Oscar a deserving recipient of the WDAFS Award of Excellence.

Presented by Eric Knudsen
WDAFS Past-President &
Awards Committee Chair
April 16, 2003