June 20, 2023

We are thrilled to welcome Ashleigh Epps as a new aquaculture specialist at Washington Sea Grant.

Ashleigh works to address challenges and opportunities associated with aquaculture as part of the Aquaculture and Water Quality Team by collaborating with diverse individuals, companies and entities based in the West Coast region in Pacific and Gray’s Harbor counties. Her first foray into aquaculture began as a high school intern researching geoduck farming methods in Puget Sound.

A graduate from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, she earned her bachelor’s degree in marine biology. While there, she earned her scientific diver and divemaster certifications and worked for the UH Diving Safety Office helping teach the scientific diver’s course. Additionally, Ashleigh interned in the Coral Resilience Lab (formerly the Gates Coral Lab) for two years where her passion for research and ecosystem-based management was ignited.

Prior to joining Washington Sea Grant, Ashleigh earned her master’s degree in marine biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Her graduate work studied an undocumented coral species residing in a local jetty system that experienced fluctuating environmental conditions such as temperature and turbidity. Upon graduation, She worked with Florida Sea Grant as the Coral Disease Associate working at the national level to support the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Coral Disease Working Group, specifically focusing on stony coral tissue loss disease.

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Washington Sea Grant, based at the University of Washington, helps people and marine life thrive through research, technical expertise and education supporting the responsible use and conservation of coastal ecosystems. The National Sea Grant College Program is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
www.wsg.uw.edu.
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