STAFFORD, UK; NEW YORK, USA; WELLINGTON, NZ—Emerging from the needs of a large number of
veterinarians already involved in aquatic animal medicine a new veterinary organization has been formed,
initially doing business under the name Aquatic Veterinary Association. The need for the organization is
compounded by the demands from companion and food aquatic animal owner, industries such as
aquaculture, and governments for veterinary assistance in aquatic animal health and welfare, public health
and seafood safety.
“Formalizing organized aquatic veterinary medicine under an incorporated and registered non-profit
professional association will also elevate aquatic veterinary medicine from a niche area of veterinary
practice to a well recognized discipline within the profession” said Dr. Peter Merrill who is serving as the
interim President. We hope this organization will cater to the needs of an estimated 5,000–10,000 aquatic
veterinarians world-wide, and those who seek their expertise, he added.
After receiving input from aquatic veter inarians in the UK, France, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and other countries a group of 6 interim-Directors stepped forward to consolidate the input into
formalized preliminary bylaws and structure for the association. These and other official documents will be
ratified by the founding members at the first Annual General Meeting in July 2007.
“We are endeavoring to cater to the professional needs of all veterinarians and veterinary surgeons
throughout the world, who are involved with all disciplines of veterinary medicine and all aquatic species,
suggested Dr. Chris Walster, who is serving as the interim Secretary.
With outbreaks of disease in the fastest growing global sector of animal production and animal
ownership —aquatic animals— the demand for veterinarians involved with traditional farmed finfish,
crustaceans and molluscs (e.g. farmed shrimp, oysters, and clams) has grown dramatically over the
past decade. Three of the five recent animal disease National Emergency Declarations in the US have
been for aquatic animal diseases – the other two for Newcastle’s disease and avian influenza in poultry.
The problems in the UK, Europe and Canada are similar, added Walster. “A similar situation exists in
Australia, New Zealand and Asia” suggested Dr. Colin Johnston, an interim AqVA Director who covers
Australasia.
National and International responses from governments and industries have opened up huge demands
for aquatic veterinarians. National plans and programs, such as the US and Canadian government’s
National Aquatic Animal Health Plans and Programs, Australia’s AQUAPLAN and AQUAVETPLAN, and
European Union directives and regulations that are being developed and implemented, place a huge
demand on an aquatic veterinary workforce. The World Animal Health Organization’s (OIE) codified
standards and their biosecurity initiatives for protecting aquatic animal industries require an organized
aquatic veterinary approach.
“We are also seeing a similar demand for aquatic veterinarians in the private practice sector that deals
with pet or ornamental aquatic animals owned by clients” said Dr. Julius Tepper, another of the
organization’s interim Directors who owns a private practice in New York. A similar situation is being felt
in the aquarium industry, with marine mammals and in wild managed fisheries and hatcheries,
suggested Dr. Tim Miller-Morgan, a Director who is organizing the first AGM.
“The solution to demand for aquatic veterinarians in all spheres of practice and with all aquatic animals
is in organized veterinary medicine which requires the formation of an organization that represents
aquatic veterinarians” said Merrill. And he added: “If we structure this organization correctly it will
substantially contribut e to all of veterinary medicine through strong liaisons with existing large and small
veterinary organizations, as well as industries, governments and the public that have a need for our
member’s expertise.”
The current Mission of the Association (formed in 2007 and doing initial business as the “Aquatic Veterinary Association”) is to serve
the discipline of aquatic veterinary medicine in enhancing and advancing the science and art of aquatic veterinary medicine, aquatic
animal health and welfare, public health, and seafood safety in support of the veterinary profession, aquatic animal industries and
other stakeholders. For more information on this new aquatic veterinary organization, to provide input into its development, or to
become a founding member, contact any of the interim Directors or visit the organization’s website at www.aquaticvet.org.