Tessa Frost was born and raised in Ketchikan and is a fisheries biologist at the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA). She grew up surrounded by fish and developed a deep appreciation for fisheries management.

"My dad was a biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game," Tessa says. "I knew from my dad, you could make a career out of hanging out with fish. So I decided to pursue that."

While in college, Tessa worked as port sampler for SSRAA and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. Tessa graduated in 2018 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a Masters degree in Fisheries Biology. She applied for the research biologist position at SSRAA.

The hatchery program in Alaska was established to create stable commercial salmon fisheries while protecting the wild stocks. SSRAA is a private non-profit program funded in part by a 3% self-imposed tax by commercial fishermen. SSRAA is one of two regional aquaculture associations in Southeast Alaska and operates three hatcheries in the Ketchikan area: Deer Mountain Hatchery, Neets Bay Hatchery, and Whitman Lake Hatchery. "We're all invested in salmon," Tessa says. "Alaskans love their salmon and hatcheries are no different. We are here to enhance the fisheries so that people can enjoy our natural resources."