The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has appointed fish health expert and veterinarian Hugh Mitchell to its board of directors, the association announced Monday.

NWAA, formerly the Washington Fish Growers Association, is a trade association that represents aquaculture producers and suppliers in the Northwest region, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia.

NWAA board President John Dentler said he views the addition to the board as “an endorsement of our mission to bring a science-based discussion to the important conversation about aquaculture that is happening here and around the world.”