Aquatic animal health professional

Aquatic animal health professionals diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases, injuries, and dysfunctions of aquatic animals by implementing appropriate sampling protocols. They supervise the use of medicines, including vaccines, and collect data on fish health, making regular reports to the appropriate personnel. They may provide care to a wide range of aquatic animals or specialize in the treatment of a particular group or in a particular specialty area. They may provide advice, support, and training to farm staff on best practices with regard to the health and welfare of the cultured organisms.

Aquatic animal health professionals typically do the following tasks:

• Conduct regular health evaluations and diagnostic tests to monitor the health of aquatic animals.
• Identify and diagnose diseases and health issues specific to aquatic species.
• Develop and administer treatment plans, including medications, surgical procedures, and other medical interventions.
• Implement preventive health care measures, including vaccinations, nutritional planning, and habitat management.
• Conduct research on aquatic animal health, disease prevention, and treatment methodologies.
• Monitor water quality and other environmental factors to ensure a healthy habitat for aquatic animals.
• Work with other veterinarians, marine biologists, aquarists, and environmental scientists to ensure comprehensive care.
• Educate staff, students, and the public about aquatic animal health, welfare, and conservation.
• Provide emergency medical care and management for injured or sick aquatic animals.
• Maintain detailed records of health assessments, treatments, and research findings.

The following job titles also refer to aquatic animal health professional:

aquatic marine health specialist
aquatic animals health professional
aquaculture health professional
aquatic animal health expert
aquatic marine health consultant
aquaculture health adviser
aquatic marine health adviser
aquaculture health expert
marine animal health expert
aquatic animals health specialist
aquatic animal health adviser
aquatic animal health specialist
aquatic animal health consultant
aquaculture health specialist
aquaculture health consultant

Aquatic Animal Health Professionals work in diverse environments, including indoor facilities like aquariums and research labs, and outdoor settings such as fish farms and natural water bodies. Their job often involves hands-on interaction with aquatic animals, which requires physical stamina and the ability to work in varying environmental conditions. They may be exposed to wet and humid environments and need to handle animals carefully to prevent stress and injury. The role often includes irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and on-call duties to address emergencies. Travel may be required for fieldwork, research, or consultation purposes.

To become an Aquatic Animal Health Professional, one typically follows these educational and training pathways:

1. Undergraduate Education: Obtain a bachelor’s degree in biology, marine science, animal science, or a related field.
2. Professional Degree: Earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited veterinary school, with coursework focusing on fish and aquatic animal medicine, if available.
3. Specialized Training: Complete a residency or specialized training program in aquatic animal health or marine veterinary medicine. This may include internships, externships, and hands-on experience in aquatic environments.
4. Licensing and Certification: Obtain veterinary licensure to practice, and pursue additional certifications such as the Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Certificate offered by the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA).
5. Experience: Gain practical experience through internships, fellowships, or employment in aquariums, marine parks, fish farms, or research institutions.

Continual professional development and staying updated with advancements in aquatic veterinary medicine are crucial. Membership in professional organizations, such as the American Association of Fish Veterinarians (AAFV) or WAVMA, provides access to resources, networking opportunities, and ongoing education.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Aquatic animal health professional is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to aquatic animal health professional.

aquaculture biologist
biologist
biophysicist
aquaculture recirculation manager
microbiologist

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of aquatic animal health professional.

• Microbiology-bacteriology: Microbiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
• Botany: The taxonomy or classification of plant life, phylogeny and evolution, anatomy and morphology, and physiology.
• Fish identification and classification: The processes that allow the identification and classification of fish.
• Aquatic species: The care and maintenance of aquatic biological species.
• Virology: The structure, characteristics, evolution and interactions of viruses and the diseases they cause.
• Fish biology: The study of fish, shellfish or crustacean organisms, categorized into many specialised fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origins and distribution.
• Laboratory techniques: Techniques applied in the different fields of natural science in order to obtain experimental data such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, electronic or thermic methods.
• Molecular biology: The interactions between the various systems of a cell, the interactions between the different types of genetic material and how these interactions are regulated.
• Biology: Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Applied zoology: The science of applying animal anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behaviour in a particular practical context.
• Ecology: The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.
• Biotechnology in aquaculture: Biotechnology and polymerase chain reactions for studies in sustainable aquaculture production methods.
• Fish anatomy: The study of the form or morphology of fish species.
• Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing a hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
• Biosecurity: Be aware of the general principles of the concept of bio-security and in particular, the disease prevention rules to be implemented in case of epidemics endangering public health.

These skills are necessary for the role of aquatic animal health professional.

• Conduct research on flora: Collect and analyse data about plants in order to discover their basic aspects such as origin, anatomy, and function.
• Monitor fish mortality rates: Monitor fish mortalities and assess possible causes.
• Perform laboratory tests: Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
• Develop aquaculture strategies: Cultivate strategies for aquaculture plans based on reports and research in order to deal with specific fish farm issues. Plan and organise work activities in order to improve aquaculture production and tackle further problems.
• Administer treatments to fish: Administer treatments to fish, including vaccination of fish by immersion and injection, continually monitoring fish for signs of stress.
• Communicate specialised veterinary information: Communicate the relevance of and the advances in the area of specialisation to general practice veterinarians and to non-veterinarians.
• Prepare fish treatment facilities: Prepare fish treatment facilities to effectively isolate contaminated fish during treatment. Control the application of treatments to avoid contaminating other stock, containers and the wider environment.
• Analyse fish samples for diagnosis: Analyse samples or lesions from farmed aquatic species for professional diagnosis and treatments.
• Keep task records: Organise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.
• Handle the disposal of chemicals: Dispose of chemicals and treatments safely according to site waste management procedures.
• Prepare fish treatment plan: Prepare health treatment plans to meet specific fish disease requirements.
• Use specialised equipment: Use specialised equipment such as electron microscope, telemetry, digital imaging analysis, global positioning systems, and computer modelling in studies and analyses of production methodology.
• Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
• Preserve fish samples for diagnosis: Collect and preserve larval, fish and mollusc samples or lesions for diagnosis by fish disease specialists.
• Diagnose aquatic animals disease symptoms: Observe and describe symptoms and lesions of fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. Monitor abnormal fish behaviour in feeding, swimming, and surfacing.
• Communicate technicalities with clients: Communicate with and support clients and veterinarians in case of problems. Provide feedback to production and management.
• Conduct fish mortality studies: Collect fish mortality data. Identify causes of mortality and provide solutions .
• Write routine reports: Compose routine reports; identify appropriate forms or documents to record data from manual inspections and/or electronic systems. Write clear observations as required. A written report is usually a summary of readings from the routine performance of the reticulation system.
• Apply scientific methods: Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
• Send biological samples to laboratory: Forward collected biological samples to the concerned laboratory, following strict procedures related to the labeling and tracking of the information on the samples.
• Assess fish health condition: Identify and prepare fish condition for the safe application of treatments.
• Carry out fish disease prevention measures: Carry out disease prevention measures for fish, molluscs, and crustaceans for land-based and water-based aquaculture facilities.
• Gather experimental data: Collect data resulting from the application of scientific methods such as test methods, experimental design or measurements.
• Monitor treated fish: Monitor treated fish to evaluate the effect of treatments.
• Implement scientific decision making in healthcare: Implement scientific findings for evidence-based practice, integrating research evidence into decision-making by forming a focused clinical question in response to a recognised information need, searching for the most appropriate evidence to meet that need, critically appraising the retrieved evidence, incorporating the evidence into a strategy for action, and evaluating the effects of any decisions and actions taken.
• Write work-related reports: Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.
• Control aquatic production environment: Assess the impact of biological conditions such as algae and fouling organisms by managing water intakes, catchments and oxygen use.
• Maintain aquaculture treatment records: Provide accurate information to maintain records of treatments applied.
• Perform field research: Participate in field research and evaluation of state and private lands and waters.
• Conserve natural resources: Protect waters and natural resources and coordinate actions. Work with environmental agencies and resource management personnel.
• Prepare visual data: Prepare charts and graphs in order to present data in a visual manner.
• Inspect fish stock: Collect and examine fish to evaluate the health of fish stock.
• Conduct fish populations studies: Study captive fish populations to determine survival, growth, and migration.
• Collect fish samples for diagnosis: Collect fish and shellfish samples for diagnosis by fish disease specialists.
• Monitor water quality: Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2, NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.
• Follow safety precautions in fishery operations: Comply with policies and institutional regulations to guarantee a safe workplace for employees in fishery and aquaculture operations. Deal with potential risks and dangers by taking appropriate safety measures.
• Collect biological data: Collect biological specimens, record and summarise biological data for use in technical studies, developing environmental management plans and biological products.
• Control fish diseases: Identify the symptoms of fish diseases. Apply appropriate measures to treat or eliminate diagnosed conditions.
• Conduct research on fauna: Collect and analyse data about animal life in order to discover the basic aspects such as origin, anatomy, and function.
• Analyse work-related written reports: Read and comprehend job-related reports, analyse the content of reports and apply findings to daily work operations.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aquatic animal health professional. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Animal welfare legislation: The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
• Pollution legislation: Be familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.
• Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
• Assessment of risks and threats: The security documentation and any security-related communications and information.
• Fish welfare regulations: The set of rules that apply in fish harvesting methods that ensure fish well-being.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aquatic animal health professional. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Communicate verbal instructions: Communicate transparent instructions. Ensure that messages are understood and followed correctly.
• Adapt communication style according to recipient: Adapt communication style to that of the recipient of the message in order to create a rapport.
• Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
• Develop fish health and welfare management plans: Develop a plan that lists risks from outdoor factors, such as predators, and pests.
• Assess environmental impact in aquaculture operations: Measure the environmental impact of a company’s aquaculture operations. Take into account factors such as quality of the sea and surface water, fish and sea plant habitats and risks regarding the quality of air, odour and noise.
• Ensure animal welfare in slaughtering practices: Respect the needs of livestock and apply the regulations regarding animal welfare in the meat and meat products manufacturing sector. Respond correctly to animal issues from unloading until stunning of the animals.
• Identify risks in aquaculture facilities: Identify the hazards and evaluate the risks to health and safety in aquaculture facilities.
• Communicate in an outdoor setting: Communicate with participants in more than one language of the European Union; handle a crisis following guidelines and recognise the importance of proper behaviour in crisis situations.
• Carry out internet research: Execute efficient search on the internet in order to gather relevant information and share it with others.
• Screen live fish deformities: Screen for deformities in live fish including larvae
• Maintain relationships with animal welfare establishments: Ensure good relations with other animal welfare establishments and agencies.
• Interview parties in relation to animal welfare investigations: Conduct interviews of suspects and witnesses in relation to cases of alleged breach of animal-related legislation.
• Apply risk management processes: Identify risk and apply a risk management process, e.g. hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).
• Develop management plans to reduce risks in aquaculture: Develop a management plan to reduce the risks from pests, predators and diseases. Supervise implementation of plan, especially disease prevention measures, throughout the aquaculture facility.
• Inspect animal welfare management: Monitor animal health and welfare management and husbandry, and analyse risk factors in relation to animal health, disease and welfare status.
• Report pollution incidents: Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.
• Communicate by telephone: Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.
• Advise on animal welfare: Prepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be reduced. Provide recommendations for corrective actions.
• Seek innovation in current practices: Search for improvements and present innovative solutions, creativity and alternative thinking to develop new technologies, methods or ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Communicate in English in a competent way: Competent use of English; R351refers to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

2250 – Veterinarians

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References

1. Aquatic animal health professional – ESCO
2. Featured image: By United States Coast Guard – https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2929664/coast-guard-animal-rescue-teams-transport-pregnant-manatee-florida-following-rescue-massachusetts, Public Domain