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CVMA Provides Input on Proposed WVA and WAVMA Policy Position on Accountability for Aquatic Medicine
Jul 20, 2018
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) offered comments on the Policy Position released by the World Veterinary Association (WVA)/World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) on the Accountability for Aquatic Medicine.
The position states, "As a temporary measure until a sufficient number of aquatic veterinarians are available, those countries that delegate some responsibilities to fisheries biologists and other non-veterinarians should hold these individuals accountable at the same level as veterinarians. When sufficient numbers of aquatic veterinarians are available, legislation, regulations and international standards should clearly identify the supportive functions of aquatic non-veterinarians and ensure that veterinary services should be only performed under the supervision of a veterinarian."
Some of the feedback offered by the CVMA includes, "This policy reduces the incentive to move from non-veterinary involvement to veterinary oversight," and "Lack of veterinary oversight cannot adequately address food safety, antimicrobial use, aquatic animal health and welfare."
Read the WVA/WAVMA policy position here and the CVMA's letter in response here