28th ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP April 21-25, 2003 My Perception Of Fish Health In The United States John A. Plumb Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Alabama 36849 Interest in fish health thrived and grew in the United States during the last century.  During the first 60 years of that period fish health was applied primarily to cultured fish intended for stocking into waters on state and federal lands for sport fishing, but now it is also extensively applied to commercial aquaculture.  Fish health has influenced the growth of commercial aquaculture in the United States in the last 40 years and around the world.  This has resulted in a greater availability of training for fish health personnel, development of biologicals and vaccines, and an emphasis on fish health management.  Although state and federal agencies are still extensively involved in research and diagnostic services, they no longer dominate the field.  Many individuals that became involved in fish health began their careers in some area of fisheries other than diseases (i.e. fish culture or fishery biology), but this may not currently be the case.  The veterinary profession can contribute to aquatic animal health.  As programs develop in schools of veterinary medicine I encourage veterinarians to become knowledgeable in fish culture, water quality, and fishery biology.  Aquatic animal health must be applied in a holistic management approach to fisheries because it is not possible to know only the pathogen and/or the fish, and still understand the complex relationship between the environment, fish and pathogen.  Advances in biotechnology, such as molecular detection and identification of pathogens, and development and application of vaccines for disease control have become integral to fish health; however, biotechnology cannot alone solve all fish disease problems. Return to 28th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page