A message from the organizers
Welcome to the Sixth International Symposium on
Aquatic Animal Health website. We are
delighted to share the contents of this symposium for your research and educational purposes!
Every four years, the American Fisheries Society
– Fish Health Section (AFS-FHS) enlarges its annual meeting by inviting
international participation, in the form of the International Symposium. This year we has over 300
participants, representing 24 nations - the most geographically diverse attendance at any of
the Symposia. We recognize that
many of the attendees expended great deal of effort in order to attend – we greatly
appreciate this! We especially
appreciate the efforts and contributions from our registered students, many of whom will be presented their
work. We hope our students enjoyed
the symposium, participated in the student professional development workshop and
presentation competition, and took advantage of the unique networking
opportunities that were available throughout the week.
The scientific program was diverse and
fascinating! It contained many new elements, including an opening session,
International Priorities and Perspectives, featuring representatives from
international aquatic animal health organizations. We were fortunate to also have a fine assembly of plenary
speakers, who contributed comprehensive updates on viral hemorrhagic
septicemia virus, finfish culture and parasitic diseases in China, teleost
immunology, infectious salmon anemia, and ecosystem health in the Gulf of
Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill. Special session topics
and workshops included aquatic animal disease surveillance, the myxozoan
workshop, global emergency responses, antimicrobial in aquaculture, and
diagnostic challenges. The
concurrent oral sessions and dedicated poster session will featured more than
225 contributions from around the world.
Tampa was a fun and diverse city from which to stage the symposioum. Our program of educational tours and
excursions allowed attendees to learn more about Tampa, with its diverse museums, restaurants and communities, and discover some of
the great features of Florida, including St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Ruskin and
Clear Springs.
In planning this 6th
International Symposium, we have drawn upon our experience in developing and
hosting the 3rd International Symposium, held in Baltimore in
1998. We also recognized that there
has been much change in the past twelve years, as reflected in new science and
bench techniques, altered perspectives regarding our changing environment, and
changes in regional and global economies that have had at least some affect for
all of us in academia, business and government. Some of these changes are certainly reflected in the
abstracts presented at this ISAAH-6.
The AFH-FHS, our colleagues, family and friends, have
provided invaluable support for this symposium. We are especially grateful to our wonderful team of
volunteers and support associates, who have willingly and ably contributed
thousands of hours of energy and creativity to make this ISAAH-6 a success. It was our wish that each of our attendees had a
wonderful week at ISAAH-6, sharing meaningful science, engaging in new and
productive collaborations, and good memories! Thank you so much for your attendance and
contributions. Your energy and
input have allowed all of us to collectively benefit from this cooperative
symposium.
With our very best wishes,
Andrew. S. Kane and Sarah L. Poynton
Symposium Co-Organizers
