THE EVOLVING IMPORTANCE THE EVOLVING IMPORTANCE ofof

VETERINARY MEDICINEVETERINARY MEDICINEinin

AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

American Fisheries Society – Fish Health SectionAtlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island,

July 10th, 2008

Panel Discussion GenesisPanel Discussion Genesis

• Ongoing discussion since the 1960’s on the role(s) of veterinarians in aquaculture health management.

• Bacterial & microbial parasite infections in farmed salmonids… development of prescription treatments.

• Evolution of aquaculture species diversification, intensification of production & global trade.

• Growing need for similar support systems for farmed aquatic animals as provided for terrestrial animals.

• The vet/non-vet debates: FAO, AFS-FHS, OIE, WAS conclude both veterinary & non-vet expertise needed.

• Canada’s NAAHP - the search for aquatic veterinarians - 20% of national expertise recruited to federal program delivery… triggers search for more expertise to replace losses to provinces & industry.

The PanelThe PanelChair: Dr. Sharon McGladdery,Chair: Dr. Sharon McGladdery,

Director, Aquatic Animal Health Division, CFIA, Canada

Dr. Brian Evans – Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada

Mr. Kevin Amos – USA National Aquatic AnimalHealth

Plan (NAAHP) Co-Chair Dr. Larry Hammell – AVC Veterinary Epidemiologist Dr. Leighanne Hawkins – Cooke Aquaculture

Veterinarian Dr. David Scarfe – American Veterinary Medical

Association Dr. Ron Thune – Baton Rouge, Louisiana State

University

What What OpportunitiesOpportunities

are ‘out there’?are ‘out there’?Government•Federal - inspection, regulatory, policy, trade negotiation, program development.

•Province/State - aquaculture management, outbreak/detection response coordination with industry & federal government authorities.

Private Practice •Aquaculture veterinarian – fish health management, biosecurity.

•Consultant – research proposals, farm management advice.

•Ornamental/Aquarium practitioner – stock management, advice,

What Opportunities are there?What Opportunities are there?(cont’d)(cont’d)

Corporate Veterinarian• Company - feed, fish farming, drug

Academia• Teaching - epidemiology, pathology,

husbandry• Graduate Studies - finfish, molluscan,

crustacean & marine mammal health

Diagnostics & Research• Laboratory work, sample collection, etc• New pathogens, husbandry for new species

coming into domestication, risk analysis, epidemiology, etc..

Opportunities and needs for aquatic Opportunities and needs for aquatic animal veterinary expertise are animal veterinary expertise are increasing… but actual recruitment increasing… but actual recruitment remains limitedremains limited..

Panel discussion revolved around:1. Why?2. What can be done?3. Who should be doing this?

Why?Why?1. DVM’s graduate with significant financial burdens

(tuition & related expenses). So, unless employment is well-funded and secure, it is not attractive to new graduates.

2. Direct aquaculture industry employment remains limited to large companies and is predominantly contractual.

3. Government employment is increasing but is less attractive to new graduates who want to work with animals directly related to their DVM training.

4. Many Veterinary Colleges do not have aquatic animal health on their curricula as a career choice during DVM training.

5. Some veterinarians undertake aquatic work as a side-duty to their principle small or large animal practice, but self identify as small/large animal practitioners (e.g., USA).

6. Most jobs in aquatic animal medicine are in rural, coastal areas; whereas, most DVM students come from urban settings.

What can be done?What can be done?1. Self-promotion of veterinary work on aquatic animals.

Some panellists noted that DVM’s tend not to self-promote. This is a tradition for all medical professions, but requires re-thinking.

2. Encourage aquatic animal industries to include DVMs in their team of expertise supporting production & encourage DVMs to work in multi-disciplinary teams (a slight paradigm shift from traditional practices).

3. Include aquatic animal health management regulation and enforcement in DVM curricula to expand Government employment options for DVMs who may have this interest.

4. Include aquatic animal health training in modules provided to graduate DVMs as an option for ongoing career development.

5. Provide training for rural & coastal community veterinarians so they can effectively include aquatic animal work as part of their small or large animal practices.

Who should be doing this?Who should be doing this?

1. OIE - Continue to encourage member country Veterinary Authorities to support development of aquatic animal health infrastructures for their industries.

2. National Authorities (Veterinary, Fisheries, Enviornment, etc.) – Recruit the veterinary expertise required to build on traditional aquatic animal health resources and disciplines. Offer internships to expand DVM undergraduate employment horizons.

3. Industry – Explore the value-added of veterinary expertise as a member of core production team. Aquaculture day-to-day health management measures supports productivity & market access; Processing sector support for health certification for commodities.

4. Veterinary Associations and Colleges – Ensure training (undergraduate and for DVM professionals) includes aquatic animal health modules that support above initiatives; and aquatic industry internship opportunities.

Who should be doing thisWho should be doing this (continued) (continued)??

1. Aquatic Veterinarians – Explore opportunities for internships for DVM students, &/or provide mentorship to DVM professionals who are considering career re-direction. Promote the picturesque settings where aquatic industries are based, and the associated life-style benefits.

2. Non-Aquatic Veterinarians – Explore aquatic options for mid-career evaluation of direction (needs training module support or mentorship as above).

Aquatic

Who should be doing this (continued)?Who should be doing this (continued)?

World Veterinary Association – Continue to include and expand aquatic animal medicine in international meetings and association information media.

Benefits of a career in aquatic animal Benefits of a career in aquatic animal medicinemedicine

Muchas Gracias