We are all certainly professionals in the area of concern that brought us here. I suppose, ultimately, we are all responsible and accountable in the legal sense, and although there are within our universities now certain programs which are designed to educate students in the various expertise, it is still the responsibility of this group (the IAAAM) alone to create that knowledge and expertise. So it becomes very important that the learning continues here and that we need to bring it forward here.

But the questions that I am addressing (as I am in a private practice now and need to make a living) are where are we going in this field, where is it leading us, and where should we be directing our primary effort in this field of aquatic animal medicine? I think we all know now that with the current onslaught of new veterinary schools, the arena in small animal medicine is going to be plugged, with the demand for veterinarians being used up. And there will be a resulting pressure for diversification of veterinarians within the field. That means going into new areas, and I think a lot of thrust will be applied to aquatic animal medicine. Certainly there is a lot of interest from students, both pre-vet and vet, in this area. The problem is: where are they going to go? Speaking primarily as a mammal person up to now, we have the tools, even in the marine mammal field, to divest our knowledge, experience and expertise into a variety of areas within the aquatic animal field. Not just in mammals but into other areas, fishes as well. Certainly we need to make a living; it can't be done for free, and if we are going to enter this area of aquatic animal medicine in a large way there has got to be a market for it.

In this sense, if we are going to make it, it is important that we have some affiliate body for support. At the present many of us are affiliated with a university, or an existing practice, so we can make a living while we are entering the field. But I think we need to explore new areas. With the students in my area of the country, and in speaking at various schools, I have found a lot of interest in marine mammals. Certainly, this organization began as primarily a marine mammal organization. And yet, frankly, I do not see much happening in this field. There are more and more part-time consultant veterinarians, and when you really think of how many job opportunities do come along, with existing practitioners absorbing what positions do become available, I do not see much opportunity left in the marine mammal field. So, when we go to the veterinary school and university and inspire students in the area of aquatic animal medicine, I feel some guilt in allowing their interest to be turned toward the area of marine mammals. The point being, I think, that it is time for the aquatic animal veterinarian, or veterinarians in general, to explore and create the field, in a sense, in the area of fish medicine.

Fish medicine has evolved in a manner similar to the way in which avian medicine has been evolving for a long time. That is, the primary disease person in fish medicine is the fish culturist. At some point we are going to need to realize our responsibility to enter the field of fish medicine. Certainly the protein conversion factors in fish are going to lead this country, as has happened in other countries, into fish culture, and fish will become more important as a protein source. If we do not "jump onto the bandwagon now" and get into fish medicine, we will miss a "big bet." As we inspire students into the area of aquatic animal medicine, it has got to be in the area of fish disease work, because this is where opportunities are going to happen in the next ten or fifteen years.

When I accepted the idea of giving this presentation, I was ill-defined about the nature of the talk. So I sent around a questionnaire to some of the oceanariums, in fact all oceanariums housing cetaceans. I was interested at that time in assaying the field for a feel for (1) how we as professionals are doing and (2) where the field is going. Now I was looking primarily in the area of marine mammals, and it was just recently that I decided to expand the talk into the area of fish as well. I assayed the feeling by management for what is happening in the veterinary profession.

Briefly, the results of the questionnaire showed the following. Twenty-six questionnaires were sent out and I received twelve in reply. Interestingly, most of the twelve were from the smaller oceanariums. There were eight returns from profit organizations, with four from nonprofit organizations. There were slightly more returns from facilities with more than 20 animals. The first question addressed their relative satisfaction with their medical program; all answered that they were satisfied. Nearly all employed part-time veterinarians, so it is obvious that one veterinarian can go a long way, in some respects at least. This was true for both profit and non-profit organizations.

Most replied that their veterinary service was satisfactory, with a few replying that it was very satisfactory. I was interested in the concept of the paramedic, and how many institutions may be using such individuals to perform the major day to day functions versus having a veterinarian perform that function. Slightly more than half currently hire paramedics, thereby leaving the advisory capacity to the veterinarian. About as many felt that this was an important program.

In asking what direction these facilities/research institutions were heading, I tried to solicit comments from them as to whether or not we can look to the future for a more prosperous industry. Or, are things, as they appear, now in a fairly static position. I feel that research ongoing in these facilities might be an indicator for some of the vitality that was expressed by these oceanariums. As it turns out, many of these facilities housing cetaceans were now in fact conducting research. In less than half, however, the primary research person was a veterinarian. Most were soliciting research help from the outside. Interestingly enough, I found that very few of the oceanariums replying had received funding from the outside. Most were supporting their own research with most of the research not finding its way into publication.

There is a dire need at this time for some funding boost in the area of marine mammal research; it is difficult to get funds. The marine mammal commission has provided some funds to this time, but these funds are, it seems, dwindling, and it is getting more and more difficult to channel those funds into medical research.

Perhaps, if Sea Grant is going to become involved in the area of aquatics, this is an area that needs thrust and energy. If not in the area of marine mammal medicine, then certainly and most importantly in the area of fish medicine. I was interested if facilities would make their animals available for research, and most replied that they would. In the area of reproduction (because of the current interest and I think that this is an area of certain vitality in the oceanariums) most of the answering facilities replied that they were interested in reproduction; that they had reproducing animals on the facility and most were willing to make their animals available for trade and transfer for reproductive purposes. This is an area that we haven't explored in the marine mammal business. There has been some interest and something we can perhaps get into: that is trading animals for better and more successful reproduction.

In terms of facility expansion, certainly if there are going to be more veterinarians employed in the marine mammal area we are going to have to expand and multiply the facilities that use veterinary services. I found that most of the facilities that replied, especially the small ones, indicated that they were expanding their facilities, but very few were expanding their facilities outside the current physical plant. So I see very little indication, at least in the marine mammal business, that there is going to be much more in the future than there is right now. Most of the facilities were applying for marine mammal permits, and so are obtaining more animals at their local sites.

Well, where does it all get us? I think what this is leading into is that the thrust of our interest now, as we are bringing along students, is into the area of fish medicine. I am currently developing an interest in that myself. But I am not sure, frankly, if there is a profitable business to be made in fish medicine. We need to explore and develop it. I know from what contact I have had with some of the fish culturists that yes, they need help; but much of the help is coming from biologists and university extensions. When you query them about whether or not they are willing to pay for the help, most say that they are not. (And let's face it, we are not in the business of this industry for free. You have got to support the industry with some funds.) The university extensions cannot handle the whole field, so we need to explore this potential.

In the area of exotic fish, I am not sure that the situation is any more encouraging right now. Having dealt somewhat with the large fish importers, they do not want medical services at all. Their whole business at this point is to bring the fish in and get them out as fast as they can. If those fish sit around long enough to need medical attention, they are holding them too long. They push them on and let the problems be absorbed by the next person. The retailer operates in the same mode; move them as quickly as possible so they do not need medical attention.

The need in the industry right now is to educate the public and to educate the industry, both the exotic fish and the aquaculture/mariculture area, of the need for veterinary service. We can increase their productivity and reduce their health problems to the point that what they pay the veterinarian will ultimately be a profit and gain for them. I think this is where the profession needs to go in the future and where much of our academic and intellectual thrust has to be directed.