In 1945, Ed McLeary and Ken Drew founded Troutlodge, Inc., in Soap Lake, Washington. Today the enterprise has grown to become the world’s largest producer of trout eggs, air-shipping more than 300 million eggs throughout the U.S. and to more than 30 countries annually.
The foresight of Troutlodge, WSU, and the Washington State Legislature brought about the nation’s first United States Department of Agriculture approved aquatic animal health inspection service based in a fully accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory. Private funding will ensure that aquatic animal health remains a primary area of focus in the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine in service to the industry.
A key to Troutlodge’s pioneering success has been quality as assured by rigorous health safeguards. In 1994, discussions between Troutlodge and the College of Veterinary Medicine resulted in a milestone for the aquaculture industry. Since foreign and domestic diseases represent a great threat to both farmed and wild salmon and trout, researchers at WSU designed and implemented the nation’s first aquatic animal health inspection service offered by a state veterinary diagnostic laboratory and approved by the USDA. The service is available through the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory housed in the veterinary college.
With Troutlodge’s industry experience as guidance, and under the aquatic animal disease expertise and leadership of WSU veterinarians, laboratory guidelines for fish health inspection services were written. The guidelines were so well-matched to the industry’s needs and the needs of society for quality assurance that the USDA adopted them as the benchmark for all other laboratories seeking to provide similar services. Submissions to WSU’s service have grown more than 20-fold and now represent a significant economic impact to the state of Washington.
“For Troutlodge and the family and friends of Ed McLeary, the establishment of a distinguished professorship in aquatic animal health provides a historic sense of recognition for WSU’s continuing plans for statewide animal health that is consistent with what’s been done for other animal industries,” said Ed’s son, Russ McLeary. “It is very gratifying to see our efforts with the inspection service gain the level of acceptance it has and see its reach extend beyond Troutlodge, WSU, and even Washington now to the world.”
As U.S. and world consumption of seafood increase with population and as wild stocks continue to come under closer conservation scrutiny, aquaculture has stepped forward to meet the demand.
“Establishment of the inspection service has literally provided entry into worldwide markets that Troutlodge previously didn’t have access to,” said Jim Barfoot, president and CEO. “The distinguished professorship represents a long-term approach to the stability and quality assurance any animal industry needs to grow, especially internationally. This very important piece of our business is critical to that growth potential for aquaculture.”
“And for my father, Ed McLeary, this represented a capstone to a remarkable career,” Russ McLeary said. “Troutlodge and my family are very grateful and thankful for all WSU has done for us.”