Dr. Michael P. Masser, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Fisheries Specialist Texas A&M University and President of the World Aquaculture Society joined us in the first show of the month.
We discussed the World Aquaculture Society Sustainable Aquaculture Conference held in San Antonio on Feb. 27- March 2 along with the relationship of aquaculture to the koi hobby. Dr. Masser is a friend of the koi and water garden community having spoken before numerous clubs, written extensively on the subject and provided valuable advice to hobbyists and professionals alike.
The subject of sustainable aquaculture relates to how breeder facilities are maintained for instance using a set of best management practices to reduce water consumption and wastewater production in an effort to self regulate versus having regulations imposed on the industry by government. The same consideration to sustainability can be applied to hobbyists.

Dr. Allen Riggs, state veterinarian for the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, who like Masser is a graduate of Texas A&M (aquaculture must be in the water ) and other fine institutions shares with listeners changes he has seen over the years in the hobby. Riggs also promotes a few proper koi husbandry techniques, and explains how the layers of regulations on the state, national, and international level impact the hobby and industry. The derivation of his infamous semi-scientific fish vet prognosis "ADR" is also explained along with the nature of his activity as the Hawaii state veterinarian.

Buddhist Monk Kusala, a Los Angeles Police Chaplain chats with us about his experience as the sanctuary koi keeper. Rev. Kusala addresses the benefits of the hobby on one's life and how the pond is a magnet of solace amongst all the concrete and glass that surrounds a community with many troubled lives intermingled with serenity prompted by this Urban Dharma around the koi pond.

Todo led a discussion on some of the concerns that dogs for instance can pose for the koi and pond including introduction of chemicals from the lawn and even damage to the pond itself balanced against the joyful coexistence that we so often enjoy with the union of our wet and dry pets. Do you have any special stories about your dogs interacting with your koi? Email Todo with your tales of wet & dry pet interactions at pondfish@bellsouth.net.

Did you know there are diseases, called zoonoses that effect not only fish, but can infect you as a hobbyist? Hobbyists are particularly vulnerable if they have a compromised immune system and where infection occurs via contact with open wounds. Several years ago it was reported that a koi dealer’s father passed away after becoming infected in such an incident.
The pond fish need not show signs of illness for the zoonoses to be present on them or in the water the hobbyist comes in contact with. Bacteria Aeromonas and Pseudomonas are the primary zoonoses culprits followed by Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Erysipelothrix, and Mycobacterium. Aeromonas is the most common pathway for sickness in the fish and hobbyist. However, zoonoses can likewise be a parasite that infects the hobbyist either externally or internally.
The best means to avoid ever suffering from such infections is to wash thoroughly after coming into contact with the fish, pond water or associated equipment. Antibiotic treatments are available in rare cases of infection, but prevention is the best policy.

Cuong Ly, owner of the China Rose restaurant in Freeport, Maine, as many regular listeners of the Koi Club of the Air know, had his koi confiscated last year from an aquarium in his restaurant where they had resided without incident for 15 years. It has been illegal to trade in or possess koi in the state of Maine for several years now due to the lobbying efforts of those seeking to protect native brook trout fisheries. Ly became embroiled in a legal battle to have his fish returned from a Portsmouth, New Hampshire pet shop where officials sent them in an effort to remove their percieved threat.
Hundreds of news accounts laid out the position of the state and that of this average citizen who loves his fish that he believes bring him good luck. In October 2006 Maine officials under tremendous pressure for public perceptions that they had overreacted proposed a settlement with Cuong Ly. They would provide him a permit to purchase his fish back if he agreed to implant them with microchips for tracking purposes, get regular tank inspections, report if any died, and prevent the public from viewing the koi. Ly protested those conditions and then in late February 2007 the state of Maine gave up their legal battle (and untold amounts of state legal expenses), issued Ly a permit and authorized him to return his fish from New Hampshire to the China Rose restaurant. After an estimated $20,000 in legal expenses and $750 paid to the pet store for holding his fish Cuong Ly can smile and enjoy his small collection of koi once more.
Although this was a victory for Ly the Maine legislature is considering numerous other pieces of legislation that would tighten controls on species like koi. And as Ken Cox, coauthor of Fishes of Vermont and fisheries biologist for the Vermont Department of Natural Resources informed KCOTA “Vermont state regulation Title 10 § 4605 (Placing fish in waters; fish importation permits) states: “(a) A person shall not introduce or attempt to introduce: (2) any fish, except trout or salmon, into any waters except private ponds lacking access to other waters of the state (emphasis added).” Unfortunately, many pond owners are not informed of this regulation, or perhaps in some instances elect to ignore it, and release koi into their pond. With few exceptions these ponds were constructed with outflows that discharge to public waters providing the opportunity for koi, especially their young progeny, to escape from the pond and potentially obtain access to public lakes, ponds, large rivers and wetland habitats, where their presence is of concern to this agency. As an exotic species with the potential of altering aquatic habitats and fish communities, the expansion of the species presence in the state is not wanted."
Koi hobbyists would be wise to consider the potential impacts of their actions and existing and new regulations on the hobby.

Researchers at CSIRO Livestock Industries’ Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong are researching Koi Herpes Virus as a favorable biological control to release in their environment to destroy carp. Of course this is a disease that causes mass mortality in koi and with efforts being spent by organizations such as AKCA's Project KHV releasing more of this disease into the environment could be seen as counter productive.
After contacting Project leader Dr Mark Crane to determine if they were continuing to study this issue after initial release of the news of this study last year Crane wrote, "The short answer is - Yes, we are undertaking some research to assist with determining the feasibility of using KHV as a biological control agent for carp in Australia. FYI, I have attached the media release that went out previously."
There are those that disagree with any such proposal, but believe such actions are to be expected. "I have often wondered if a government agency would do that," Mike Robinson, owner of Keystone Hatcheries wrote. "However, I thought it would be the US, not Australia! I perfectly understand why they would want to try to do it because in addition to being a Koi farmer, I am also a biologist that deals with restoration of the native aquatic environment. However, I really believe that the plan is foolhardy, because some Koi will most certainly survive and develop resistance to the disease. And what about Asia & Europe? If Australia engineers the disease to be particularly deadly and it somehow (it would eventually) got to where the carp is native, it would be devastating to the region."

Congratulations to Johnny & Martha Foster of Nature's Coast Koi Club for their winning the AKCA drawing, which results in their being awarded a trip to Los Angeles, a private pond tour, and the opportunity for them to attend and vote their club proxy at the AKCA board meeting!
This is a special drawing that only AKCA reps/directors that have stayed in contact, updating AKCA on their club and events for six months straight were eligible for.

Although Internet Koi of North America (IKONA) has been online with their popular Koishack forum for some time February marked the month that they were officially brought online as the newest AKCA club! Congratulations to the leadership of IKONA and Koishack.com as they strive to grow the hobby in new and exciting ways!