In 2004, the Southeastern Cooperative Fish Disease Project completed 40 years of research, education, and disease diagnosis in support of the fisheries management goals of the members of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA). This project has been possible because of the cooperation of biologists and support from the Southeastern states. Major areas of research included parasites of warmwater sport fish, bacterial and viral diseases of fish, and environmental effects on fish health. These research topics arose from problems identified because of the disease diagnostic activities of this cooperative project. Continuing education courses provided basic instruction about fish diseases and also transferred new research information to biologists in the SEAFWA states. In addition, the training of fish disease specialists increased the availability of personnel to assist SEAFWA members.
