World Leader in Fish Health Products & Biosecurity Supplies

About Western Chemical

Western Chemical's Ferndale, Washington Plant

Western Chemical Inc. is a privately held company located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest near Ferndale Washington USA. This is where we have our corporate offices, quality control laboratories, and our FDA inspected manufacturing plant.

We also have regional distribution facilities in California, Oregon, Alabama, and Mississippi. In Canada, our products are distributed by our sister company Syndel Laboratories.

For over 30 years, we have been in the forefront of developing and marketing FDA and EPA approved fish hatchery products,  biosecurity supplies, and spawning agents for distribution worldwide.

Some of our most successful products include TRICAINE-S (MS-222) which is an FDA approved fish anesthetic and OVADINE® (PVP Iodine) which is a buffered fish egg disinfectant. Both products are manufactured at our Ferndale plant. We are also North America's leading supplier of FDA approve formalin (brand name PARASITE-S) which is produced in West Coast and Eastern locations to allow for cost effective shipping throughout North America. Western Chemical also distributes fish culture products for other companies including 35% PEROX-AID® (from Eka Chemicals) and VIRKON® AQUATIC (from DuPont). Private labeling and custom manufacturing services are also available.

Aquatic Life Sciences

Spring Chinook Salmon

The Aquatic Life Sciences group of companies includes Western Chemical Inc. in the USA, Syndel Laboratories Ltd. of Canada, Syndel Laboratories Private Limited in India and Syndel Asia in Malaysia. Aquatic Life Sciences is a privately held company with corporate headquarters in Ferndale Washington USA and offices in Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada, Hyderabad India and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For over 30 years, Syndel Laboratories and Western Chemical have been in the forefront of developing and marketing aquaculture pharmaceutical products for distribution worldwide. Syndel is a leader in spawning agents, vaccines, bio-security, & fish health products, while Western is well known for manufacturing and distributing FDA & EPA approved aquaculture products. Aquatic Life Sciences currently markets products to over 40 countries. The company’s business model is to grow through acquisitions, increased product offerings, and by expanding into new markets.

Management

• Dr. Jim Brackett DVM, President

  

  Dr. Jim Brackett is President of Aquatic Life Sciences Inc. His responsibilities include the normal operations of the company, international relations and company liaison with Health Canada, Veterinary Drugs Directorate (Canada), and the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (USA).

  Dr. Brackett received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Canada in 1980. After practicing in farm animal and pet practice for several years, he began a fish health consultancy in 1987. Dr. Brackett joined Syndel as Manager of Syndel’s fish diagnostic laboratory in 1988.

  Since 1988, Dr. Brackett, in addition to his responsibilities at Syndel, has participated in a number of activities in the aquaculture industry. Dr. Brackett has: conducted extensive surveys of farmed fish diseases for the Provincial government; prepared a draft revision of the Canadian Fish Health Protection Regulations for Canada’s federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans; established the contract aquaculture drug research company, Atlantic Fish Health Inc. at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island; and was the founding CEO and President of the British Columbia Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences.

• Dr. Hugh Mitchell MS, DVM  VP, International Market & Technical Developement

  

  Dr. Mitchell received his BSc in Marine Biology from the University of Guelph; MSc in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Toronto; and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from U. of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College in 1989. After graduating, he worked in veterinary practice prior to assuming the position of Corporate Vet. for Ocean Products, a salmon farm based in Eastport, Maine, USA. When that farm was purchased by Connors Brothers (later “Heritage Salmon”), he became the Veterinarian / Production Analyst for all its operations on the East Coast. While there, he pioneered mass injection vaccination in salmon in North America. This led him to the Seattle area where he joined Biomed, a leading fish vaccine development company, as Clinical Trials / Veterinary Services Manager and later Technical Support Manager.

  After 5 years, he formed his own consultant company: Aquatic NW Veterinary Services. With this company he serviced global aquaculture operations and regional koi hobbyists, including the manufacturing of custom-made autogenous vaccines. In 2000, he accepted the position of Manager, Professional Services USA with Novartis Animal Health’s new Aqua Business unit. Most recently, he managed the North American Aqua Business for Novartis.

• Ron Malnor, Director of Sales

  

  Mr. Malnor’s responsibilities include all aspects of sales and marketing of Aquatic Life Sciences products.

  Mr. Malnor earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aquatic Biology from Central Michigan University. Prior to joining Aquatic Life Sciences he spent 14 years as Sales Manager (West Coast USA) for Skretting which is the world’s largest aquaculture feed company. He has also worked on commercial fishing boats in Alaska and has held various positions related to wild salmon management with agencies such as the Washington Department of Fisheries, The National Marine Fisheries Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These various positions have allowed Mr. Malnor to gain expertise in commmercial aquaculture farms, enhancement fish hatcheries, ocean ranches, research institutions, public aquaria and zoos throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has served on the executive board of the Washington Fish Growers Association and the Advisory Board for the Fisheries degree program at Bellingham Technical College.

• Steven Becker, CEO (ALS) General Manager (Western Chemical)

  

  Steven J. Becker is the CEO of Aquatic Life Sciences Inc. He is responsible for all aspects of the company, including financial, legal, operations, future direction and strategic planning, international relationships and oversight of the company drug registrations in the various countries of operation.

  Mr. Becker’s background includes the founding of several companies utilizing, developing and marketing technologies such as voicemail, telecommunications management, spread spectrum, digital microwave and in 1995 the founding and formation of an international wireless communications corporation utilizing propriety, unique technology and software developed first for the US military in top-secret classified operations and then later commercialized for public use.

  Mr. Becker has been interviewed and the wireless technology showcased worldwide through various sources, including CNN, the Financial Times, the BBC and Tom Brokaw’s Nightly News. In 2004 Mr. Becker joined Western Chemical Inc. as an investor and General Manager. He has since formed Aquatic Life Sciences Inc. as a holding company and has grown the company through the purchase of Syndel Laboratories Ltd., a Canadian corporation in the spring of 2006.

• Michele Cloutier, CFO

  

  Ms. Cloutier is a licensed accountant in both Canada and the USA, holding CGA and CPA accreditation. She has an MBA in International Business from the University of Washington.

  Ms. Cloutier has held positions with corporations and has operated a public practice, specializing in small business management, taxation and international business. She joined the Aquatic Life Sciences group of companies in 2005 and has overall responsibility for financial affairs for the companies.

Product Purity

Washington State Fish Hatchery

Our facilities operate under the standards of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as well as Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). These guidelines provide a system of processes, procedures, and documentation to assure our products have the identity, strength, composition, quality, and Purity that is appropriate for their intended use.

You can trust the quality of our products.

Our fish hatchery products and biosecurity supplies are used extensively at state, federal, and tribal operated fisheries enhancement hatcheries across North America. We also supply private aquaculture companies, research institutions, fish veterinarians, and public zoos & aquariums.

Our product line continues to expand and we are always on the look out for new and improved products.

Environmental Stewardship

Pacific Northwest Salmon Stream

Western Chemical's respect for the environment is unwavering and is reflected in both our products and our record of compliance with environmental regulations.

We consistently meet or exceed all environmental regulations as set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington Department of Ecology, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as other regulatory agencies.

We take pride in our people, facilities and products while being well known for our ethics and our commitment to Environmental Stewardship. When purchasing from Western Chemical, you can be assured that the products you are using were manufactured in an environmentally responsible manner.