The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is honoring a coral reef biologist who did pioneering work in Hawaii.

The agency on Thursday presented its Rachel Carson award for scientific excellence to Jim Maragos, who began his groundbreaking work with a doctoral thesis focused on assessing the impacts of sewage on corals in Kaneohe Bay.

The agency says this research helped compel governments to remove sewage outfalls from the bay and led to coral recovery. The effort is recognized as one of the first successful habitat restoration projects for coral reefs and helped introduce coral reef management to the world.

Maragos later initiated, led or participated in dozens of ship-based expeditions to some of the most remote islands and atolls in the Pacific Ocean.

He retired from the agency in January.