By Sarah Carey
The University of Florida 's Aquatic Animal Health program was significantly enhanced in 2000 with an $810,000 state grant shared with the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine . This funding is part of a larger state program that supports the rescue and rehabilitation of Florida 's imperiled manatee population at Sea World Orlando, Miami Seaquarium, and Lowry Park Zoo.
The funding allowed UF to establish a unique training program in marine mammal health that complemented existing programs in fisheries and aquaculture.
“We have been able to provide support to our colleagues in various state agencies and to unify previously disparate programs within other departments and colleges,” said Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd, the program's director.
Dr. Eleanor Green, chair of the UF College of Veterinary Medicine's department of large animal clinical sciences and chief of staff of UF's large animal hospital, called the program “one of the most exciting on campus” and said it adds an important dimension to her department, which is where the program has its academic home.
“This program is important to the State of Florida , its fragile ecosystem, and its people,” Green said. “It would be impossible to measure the positive return on the state's investment due to the expansiveness of its impact, such as on its multitude of freshwater lakes, miles of coastline, unique and endangered aquatic animal species, agribusiness, tourism, and much more.“
The program covers everything from shellfish and other invertebrates, typically clams, shrimp and ornamental coral, through fish, including both aquarium-type fish and aquaculture (fish farming) operations, added Dr. Charles Courtney, associate dean of research and graduate studies at the veterinary college, in which the university wide program is centered. “Our zoo medicine faculty and graduate students are heavily involved in sea turtles and alligators, so we're also doing the large reptiles, both clinically and in research.”
Collaborations with state and federal agencies, as well as private zoological parks such as the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Sea World and Disney's Animal Kingdom, have been strengthened through UF's veterinary and scientific expertise in private collections and wildlife rehabilitation. The first-ever clinical resident at UF specializing in aquatic animal medicine finished her program in July. In August, veterinary college faculty approved a certificate program for professional DVM students who wish to gain experience in the area of aquatic animal health.
The program also helps fund research ranging from very basic science to applied questions, such as how fast a boat has to be going before it will damage a manatee on impact -- information which could provide information used to set boat speeds, Courtney said. Continuing education and consultation is available to biologists, veterinarians, and wildlife rehabilitation professionals throughout the country and internationally.
But the recurring funds that have made the AAH program possible may soon be on the chopping block, vulnerable to budget cuts at a time when all state agencies have been asked to trim their budgets from 4-10 percent due to Florida 's sagging economy.
“While supplemented by many more grants and contracts we bring in ourselves, the state grant has allowed the college to build a stable and strong marine mammal program and strengthen longtime programs in fisheries and aquaculture,” Courtney said. “The funds we receive are leveraged many times over.”
In August, Dr. Mike Walsh, formerly head veterinarian at Sea World of Florida, joined the UF team as associate program director. His 21 years in marine animal medicine have been hallmarked by innovation and improvement in the care of manatees, pinnipeds, penguins, dolphins, whales, sea turtles, sharks and beached whales and dolphins.
“I joined this program because of its past strengths, its current level of expertise and the obvious future commitment it will make to Florida 's valuable wild aquatic animal species, the fish industry, the Oceanaria, FWC and the National Marine Fisheries,” Walsh said. “Theses are unique and productive partnerships and the general public has no idea of the many accomplishments on their behalf.”
Walsh also has contributed to the internationalization of Florida 's aquatic animal medicine program with previous training for and assistance to programs in Taiwan , Canada , Holland , Argentina , and South America .
“There may be programs around the world that are stronger than we are in one particular area, but I'm fairly certain that no one has the broad strength and completeness that we have,” Courtney said.
