Northwest Aquaculture Alliance Expands Leadership with Distinguished Industry Experts from Across the Americas

Covington, Washington —The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) announced the expansion of its leadership team with the election of new officers and directors across the Pacific Region and the Americas.

Taking the helm as NWAA President is global seafood industry leader, Dick Jones, with Alaska seafood veteran, Jeff Hetrick, as Vice President. New Directors include Marcela Paz Delgado, DVM, founder and CEO of Sudvet Corp., and Landen Talbot, Global Sales Manager of Troutlodge, Inc.

The elections took place at NWAA’s recent Board of Directors meeting following the retirement of its long-time President, Jamestown Seafood CEO, Jim Parsons. Parsons, who received NWAA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, served as NWAA’s President from 2020 to December 2025, where he led the Alliance’s aquaculture advocacy efforts. As President-emeritus, Parsons will continue to serve NWAA as Board Advisor.

Jones, CEO and founder of Kona, Hawaii-based Tidepoint Group, previously was CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture, the only open-ocean finfish mariculture company operating in the United States. He is currently the Executive Director of the Hawai’i Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association (HAAA) and Executive Director of the National Fisheries Institute’s Sushi Council. He brings more than three decades of experience in seafood, aquaculture, and nonprofit ocean stewardship to the organization.

Hetrick, a nationally recognized leader in shellfish mariculture, salmon enhancement, and tribally led marine research, is Director of the Seward, Alaska-based Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute. In addition to serving as Vice President of NWAA, Hetrick sits on the boards of the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) and the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation.

Incoming President Jones brings a wealth of experience and commitment to building NWAA’s success going forward. “I am honored to serve as President and look forward to collaborating with our members and partners to further the Alliance’s strategic priorities,” he noted. 

“As NWAA enters a new chapter, the organization remains focused on expanding its impact across the Pacific Region,” he said. “We believe the time has come for the United States to follow the lead of other countries in producing seafood through responsible, sustainable aquaculture in both marine and freshwater environments.” He added: “We intend to play a key role in making US aquaculture happen.”

NWAA Executive Director Jeanne McKnight welcomed the new leaders, noting that the combined expertise of Jones, Hetrick, Delgado, and Talbot positions the organization to accelerate its advocacy, education, and industry‑building efforts across the Pacific Region.

“Each of these leaders brings a unique and essential perspective to our mission,” McKnight said. “Their collective experience—from fish health and welfare to hatchery operations, policy, and global seafood systems—strengthens NWAA’s ability to champion responsible aquaculture and support the growth of a resilient domestic seafood sector.”

The expanded board begins its term immediately, guiding NWAA’s strategic initiatives in 2026, focusing on aquaculture education, public engagement, and innovation.

New Board Members Bring Global Scientific and Hatchery Expertise

Marcela Paz Delgado, DVM, CEO of Sudvet, is an internationally recognized aquaculture health expert with more than 25 years of experience in fish health, diagnostics, biosecurity, and sustainable production. Under her leadership, Sudvet has pioneered botanical and biotechnological health solutions that reduce antibiotic and antiparasitic use, supporting global efforts to improve fish welfare and environmental performance.

In 2025, Dr. Delgado was named one of Chile’s 100 Most Influential Women Leaders, a national honor recognizing leaders who are transforming their industries through innovation and scientific impact. Her appointment brings a powerful combination of scientific depth, international perspective, and innovation leadership to NWAA.

As Global Sales Manager of Troutlodge, Inc., Landen Talbot contributes deep operational expertise in trout genetics, broodstock management, and global seed‑stock distribution. His background includes leadership roles in hatchery operations, selective breeding programs, and international customer support across North America, Europe, and Asia. 

Talbot’s work helps maintain Troutlodge’s position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of high‑performance trout eggs, and his perspective strengthens NWAA’s focus on innovation, production efficiency, and sustainable growth.

NWAA Officers: 

• Dick Jones, President—CEO, Tidepoint Group
• Jeff Hetrick, Vice President—Director, Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute
• Carrington Gorman, Treasurer—Director of Aquaculture, Rangen, Inc.
• Langley Gace, Secretary—Former Senior VP, Innovasea 

NWAA Directors:

• Chris McReynolds — CEO, Syndel, Inc.
• Hugh Mitchell, DVM — Owner, Aquatic Northwest Veterinary Services 
• Isaac Yun — Strategy, Product, and Commercial Leader, Cargill
• Jacqueline (Jackie) Zimmerman — National Account Manager, North America, Merck Animal Health
• Jim Parsons, President-emeritus; Board Advisor—CEO, Jamestown Seafood 
• Kevin Bright — Permit Coordinator, Cooke Aquaculture Pacific
• Landen Talbot – Global Sales Manager, Troutlodge, Inc.
• Marcela Paz Delgado, DVM – CEO, Sudvet Corp.
• Ron Malnor — Sales Manager, Bio‑Oregon / Skretting
• Svein Wiese‑Hansen — Director of Strategic Development, Pacific Seafood
• Walter T. Pereyra, Ph.D. — Chairman, Arctic Storm Management Group and Chairman, ProFish International

About Dick Jones 

Dick Jones is a globally recognized seafood and aquaculture executive with more than three decades of leadership spanning commercial aquaculture, sustainable seafood supply chains, nonprofit ocean conservation, and international development. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) and was elected NWAA President for a three-year term beginning in December 2025.

In 2025, Jones founded Tidepoint Group, a consultancy focused on the blue economy with a specialization in seafood supply chain strategy, market development, and organizational leadership. 

Current work includes serving as Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association (HAAA), Executive Director of the NFI Sushi Council, and lead market strategist for an ongoing feasibility study evaluating a Queen Conch aquaculture facility in the Bahamas.

Previously, Jones served as Chief Executive Officer of Blue Ocean Mariculture from 2020 to 2025, where he led the only open ocean finfish mariculture company operating in the United States. His earlier career includes seafood retail leadership roles at Whole Foods Market and H E B Grocery, as well as senior positions with Ocean Outcomes and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.

Jones joined the NWAA Board in 2021 while serving as CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture, contributing to the organization’s expanded geographic reach and strengthened advocacy for responsible aquaculture across the Pacific region.

About Jeff Hetrick 

Jeff Hetrick is a distinguished leader in Alaska mariculture, with over 45 years of experience spanning salmon ocean ranching, commercial shellfish farming, and marine science innovation. Since 2002, Jeff has served as Director of the non-profit Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute (APMI) in Seward, Alaska, where his vision and expertise have transformed APMI into a regional powerhouse with statewide influence in coastal marine science, mariculture development, and research.

Under Hetrick’s guidance, APMI has become Alaska’s recognized leader in producing kelp and shellfish seed stock for the mariculture industry and Tribal partners. The Institute supports aquatic farming by producing oyster and geoduck seed, as well as numerous species for subsistence fisheries—including littleneck, butter, and softshell clams as well as cockles.

Hetrick has also championed research on emerging species such as bidarkis, abalone, razor clams, sea cucumbers, king crab, purple-hinged rock scallops, pink and spiny scallops, and multiple kelp varieties. Recently, APMI established a kelp seed nursery, supplying seeded spools to farmers across Alaska.

APMI’s research portfolio is broad, covering ocean acidification, marine animal behavior and physiology, harmful algae, marine pathogens, habitat restoration, and the preservation of subsistence and recreational fisheries. The institute also operates the Chugach Regional Ocean Monitoring (CROM) Laboratory, which manages a network of monitoring sites throughout Southcentral Alaska. 

Hetrick holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland and an MBA from California Coast University. He is deeply engaged in industry leadership, serving on the Board of Directors of the National Aquaculture Association, the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation, and the Northwest Aquaculture Alliance—where he is Vice President. He also serves on the Western Regional Aquaculture Center Industry Advisory Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Alaska Ocean Observatory System. In addition to holding memberships in NSA and the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, Jeff Hetrick is a founding member and past president of the Alaska Shellfish Growers Association (ASGA).