Editorial by John Hawley

"The World Animal Health Organization's (OIE) codified standards and their biosecurity initiatives for protecting aquatic animal industries require an organised aquatic veterinary approach," according to the new Aquatic Veterinarian Association. And Dr. Julius Tepper is the Interim Executive Director of the new association overseeing "Incorporating suggestions into Bylaws; General Membership Information; Future AqVA Committees; and Member Services." Tepper vowed on the Koi Club of the Air to push for fish to be provided uniform legal protection across the country, as are other animals under the Veterinary Practice Act (http://koicluboftheair.org/newsletter/KCOTA_FishWrap_August_06.html & audio interview July 26, 2006). I was and continue to be concerned about this as now one of Tepper's agenda items has come to pass that being the establishment of an Aquatic Veterinary Association (AqVA).

There is an ongoing move afoot to incorporate increasingly strigent international standards on animal rights and to koi fish via the OIE influenced by establishing local authorities such as the AqVA. As part of the OIE effort "New Zealand's Massey University has been named to work with the Office International des Epizooties (OIE, or World Organization for Animal Health) — to develop international guidelines and standards for animal welfare practices for farm animals. Massey University’s Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre will become the only OIE collaborating center dedicated to animal welfare science and related bioethical analysis," according to http://www.dairyherd.com/news_editorial.asp?pgID=675&ed_id=6628

Consider for a moment the process of ornamental carp culling. How humane is it to cull and possibly destroy the overwhelming majority of spawned fish? We don't cull puppies or kittens. What will be the impact of Tepper's agenda and that of advocates at New Zealand's Massey University and the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)? Will one of the committees that Tepper establishes in his role as executive director to be consideration and recommendations regarding animal welfare? Surely he will do this.