You are enthusiastically invited to participate in the 6th International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health (ISAAH-6), which will address key issues of aquatic animal health practices and development. The symposium builds upon a series of similar successful meetings held at 4-year intervals, that are sponsored by the American Fisheries Society - Fish Health Section, with additional support from other major national and international aquatic animal health organizations. These include the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, the National Shellfisheries Association, the Japanese Society for Fish Pathology, the European Association of Fish Pathologists, and the Aquatics Committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Previous International Symposia on Aquatic Animal Health, including the largest meeting in Baltimore in 1998, have attracted strong international support, with up to 425 participants representing up to 35 countries.

Focus and format of the symposium. The symposium will provide a stimulating and inclusive forum for exchange of current information on research, management and policy issues related to health and diseases of aquatic animals, whether wild, farmed, or held on exhibit. The broadest range of animals is considered, from invertebrates, to fish, amphibians, chelonians, and marine mammals. This important international gathering will be used to facilitate discussion and action on issues of international importance. Key themes of the symposium will include (i) infectious diseases in aquaculture, (ii) planning and emergency response for aquatic animal health emergencies, (iii) interaction of diseases between wild and farmed stocks, and (iv) outcomes of environmental stress including effects of contaminants, and regional and global habitat alteration. It is hoped that the symposium will facilitate active participation by individuals typically underrepresented at international meetings, including colleagues and students from such regions as Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and the Former Soviet States, Near East and Asia, Oceania, Australia and New Zealand, South America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Symposium schedule. The symposium will comprise four days of scientific meetings that will follow an icebreaker reception on the waterside terrace of the hotel on Sunday evening, September 5. The main scientific sessions will be Monday September 6th through Thursday September 9th inclusive, beginning each morning with a plenary or special session, followed by three parallel platform sessions. The dedicated half-day poster session on Wednesday morning will include breakfast. There will also be a student workshop, a diagnostic challenges session, and an exhibits area for books and informational displays by participating scientific organizations. The symposium banquet, featuring regional foods and music, will be on Wednesday evening, and the closing session will be on Thursday afternoon. On Monday evening there will an excursion to the Florida Aquarium, and Tuesday afternoon is free time for participants to enjoy Tampa or to take one of a number of educational and recreational tours.

Marriott Tampa Waterside Hotel. Along the Channel Riverwalk in the heart of Downtown Tampa lies the striking Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, where the symposium will be held. This luxury hotel offers elegant accommodations and amenities for work and play, including beautiful guest rooms and meeting spaces, a choice of restaurants, an outdoor pool, and waterfront terraces. The hotel is 8 miles from the Tampa International Airport (TPA), ranked by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as the #1 airport in the US, and the #3 in the world for its creativity and interior design. Current prices for transportation between the hotel and airport are $12 by bus or $22 by taxi. Our specially negotiated symposium room rates are $129 USD per night base rate for single or double occupancy ($149 triple occupancy; $169 quadruple occupancy). These rates will prevail from September 1st through 12th to allow participants and their guests to enjoy all of the regional treasures of Tampa and its environs.

Tampa and the surrounding area. Tampa lies on the west coast of the state of Florida, in the southeast of the United States. This city of approximately 300,000 people is bordered by Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, both of which converge to form Tampa Bay, which in turn flows into the Gulf of Mexico. There is a wide range of architectural designs and styles, including the historic art deco Tampa Theatre, the post-modern Tampa Museum of Art, and the unique glass architecture of the Florida Aquarium. A nostalgic way of getting around the city is to ride the streetcar, which connects Downtown Tampa, the Channel District, and the historic Cuban and Spanish community of Ybor City. The city has a subtropical climate, with September temperatures typically ranging from the low 70s to the upper 80s (23-32 degrees Celcius). Adjacent to Tampa is the delightful waterfront community of St. Petersburg with the world renowned Dali Museum, the stunning beach at Clearwater, and the Busch Gardens theme park.

Symposium organization. ISAAH-6 will be organized through the Emerging Pathogens Institute and the Aquatic Pathobiology Laboratory, University of Florida. The scientific component of the symposium will be directed by the International Advisory Group, including members of the American Fisheries Society - Fish Health Section, and members of participating aquatic animal health organizations, in cooperation with the local organizing team, headed by the symposium hosts, Drs. Andrew Kane and Sarah Poynton.

Additional support for programming and special sessions has been made possible through the University of Florida by the Emerging Pathogens Institute, the College of Public Health and Health Professions and the Aquatic Animal Health Program, College of Veterinary Medicine.

Grants. AFS-Fish Health Section Travel Grants will be available for a limited number of students and foreign scientists for the ISAAH, thanks to the money generated by the 2008 AFS-FHS Annual Meeting.

Important dates. Reserve the dates in your calendar now, and consider treating yourself to some days before, and or, after the symposium to enjoy the beauties of Florida, and the special symposium rates at the hotel which are available from September 1st -12th inclusive. The call for abstracts, registration materials, travel grant information and hotel reservation details will be available in spring 2010 via the ISAAH-6 website, and links to it from the AFS-FHS website, and sites of other professional organizations.