Summer Experiences

Stephen Reichley
The Ohio State University, '14


Do you ever wonder what you will be doing after graduation? Consider a career in aquatic animal health. Almost 86% of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported, leading to a $9 billion trade deficit.  There are only so many fish in the sea; the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates 84% of the world’s fish stocks are fully exploited or overexploited.  Aquaculture currently accounts for over half of the world’s fish supply and is the fastest growing area of agriculture in the world.

With the global population on the rise and the fact that the feed conversation ratio of fish is better than beef, swine, and poultry, aquaculture is the natural industry to supply the world with quality protein.

I spent the first five weeks of my 2011 summer break at the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center in Stoneville, Mississippi.  During my time there I had the privilege to work with Dr. Lester Khoo in the Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory and in Dr. Matt Griffin’s molecular biology research laboratory.  The diagnostic lab was quite similar in operation to the familiar small animal clinic with one exception; there are no appointments.  Mississippi is catfish country and producers there have ponds extending as far as the eye can see.  If they notice a problem in a pond they catch some of the sick fish, hop in a truck and head to the Aquatic Diagnostic Lab.  At the lab Dr. Khoo and his team immediately get to work gathering a history from the farmer while analyzing water samples, taking gill clips and collecting samples for bacterial and viral isolation.  Once the problem is identified Dr. Khoo typically advises the farmer on husbandry-related changes, writes a prescription for antibiotic feeds or consults on vaccine protocols.  It was amazing to be able to apply the principles I learned in vet school, mostly about dogs and cats, to fish.

After leaving Mississippi, I came home for a week to prepare for my trip to Idaho.  I was lucky enough to get an externship with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for the remainder of summer break.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into but it was an opportunity to learn more about fish; only this time it was from a slightly different perspective – conservation rather than production.  I was based at the Eagle Fish Health Laboratory, although I hardly spent any time there.  When I arrived spawning season was in full swing and we went on the road going from hatchery to hatchery collecting tissues for the many different disease surveillance programs they have in place for Chinook salmon.  The spawning process is a quite spectacular operation; there were typically 10-15 people to spawn, take fin clips for DNA analysis, look for tracking devices, take head wedges for parasite surveillance and kidney and spleen samples for viral and bacterial surveillance.  During my eight weeks in Idaho, I travelled over 9,000 miles through some very scenic areas.  It was a great opportunity to not only learn more about fish and aquaculture, but also to see a great deal of beautiful Idaho.

Now I am back in Ohio eagerly awaiting the start of my clinical year.  I have rotations scheduled in four states and four countries next year, all related to fish health. My career goals are distinctly different from when I entered vet school.  Everything I have seen in the past two and a half years has continued to increase my desire to learn about fish health and has impressed upon me the growing importance of this inexpensive, high-quality protein source.  So the next time you wonder what you might be doing after graduation take a minute to consider the many aspects this great profession has to offer beyond the traditional small- and large-animal medicine.