Chairperson Selected for Fish Health Policy Board

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and the Utah Department of Natural Resources announce the selection of Dr. Joanna Endter-Wada, from the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University, as the chairperson of the newly created Fish Health Policy Board.

The selection of Endter-Wada fills the final and seventh seat on the board, whose duties will be to prevent and control disease among aquatic animals in Utah. The board was created by the 1998 Utah Legislature to replace two other aquaculture-related boards-the Aquaculture Advisory Committee and the Fish Health Board.

Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Kathleen B. Clarke and Commissioner of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), Cary G. Peterson announced the selection of Endter-Wada, today. Endter-Wada is an associate professor of forest resources, an adjunct associate professor of watershed science and of sociology, and Director of Utah State University's Natural Resources and Environmental Policy Program. She has extensive experience in the study of the environment and in the policy and social science aspects of natural resources.

"I look forward to working with the other members of the board," said Endter-Wada. "Collectively the board has the appropriate expertise to address Utah's fish health issues. I feel comfortable with this competent group of people," she added.

The six other members of the board are: Michael R. Marshall, DVM, State Veterinarian and Director of the Utah Division of Animal Industry; John Kimball, Director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Kent Hauck, UDAF Fish Pathologist; Ron Goede, Director, Fisheries Experiment Station, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; John Neuhold, member of the Natural Resources Board for Trout Unlimited National; and Grant White, President of the Utah Aquaculture Association. The six members were appointed earlier this year by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Food and the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources.

"Fish health is critical to the State of Utah, for the sport fishing and wildlife interests, as well as for the commercial interests," said Commissioner Peterson. "It is important that we combined two boards into this one. This will create a more efficient and effective process for the future," Peterson added.

"This is an outstanding group of professionals who are committed to resolving issues related to Utah's fish population," says Department of Natural Resources Executive Director, Kathleen Clarke. "Joanna Endter-Wada brings excellent knowledge and leadership skills to the chairmanship of the committee."

The Fish Health Policy Board has the regulatory authority to list pathogens and develop procedures to carry out the protection of Utah fish. It will create an emergency response team to investigate disease threats. It will also develop unified statewide aquaculture disease control plans to sample and test public and private fish hatcheries, as well as streams and commercial aquaculture operations.

The board's first meeting is scheduled for July 31, 1998 at a place and time to be determined.

Posted 20 July, 1998