TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP JOHN CARVER INN, PLYMOUTH, MA 30 MARCH - 2 APRIL, 1998 An Historical Note About The Eastern Fish Health Workshop Emmett B. Shotts, Jr. and Rocco C. Cipriano National Fish Health Research Laboratory, United States Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, 1700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430 Twenty-three years ago a small group of federal researchers gathered together on the eastern shore of Maryland to share their research, discuss their problems, plan new studies, and enjoy each other's fellowship. That first meeting was originally inspired by Dr. Stanislaus Snieszko of the Eastern Fish Disease Laboratory (EFDL) of the U.S. Department of Interior (Kearneysville, WV) and Drs. Carl Sinderman and Aaron Rosenfeld of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Oxford, Md). Both laboratories were somewhat close geographically and both worked on fish diseases, but emphasis differed between fresh water and marine environments. Not only did the early workshops foster communication between the two facilities but they provided important opportunities to collaborate with each other. Within a few short years, fish disease work became well established within several major universities in the eastern United States and interest in the workshop began to evolve beyond its original intent. Today, the National Fish Health Laboratory is proud to continue the tradition of the Eastern Fish Health Workshop and serve as its annual host. Although the title of the Workshop appears exclusive to fish, the workshop encourages much broader participation in all aspects of aquatic animal health (from shellfish to mammals). It remains true to its original roots and encourages contributions from the marine as well as the freshwater environment. We convene our meeting this year in the historic seaport village of Plymouth (MA). In addition to individual scientific presentations, we have planned an educational forums on diseases of marine mammals and the problem of recent fish kills and lesions within the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. We are also proud to feature two presentations that provide a European perspective on the taxonomic situation regarding atypical variants of Aeromonas salmonicida and the status of vaccination against furunculosis. We hope that each of you will find this year's workshop to be educational and foster additional avenues for future collaboration. But please, take time to be a Pilgrim in this wonderful village and enjoy the sights and sounds of Plymouth!   Return to 23rd Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page