The Aquatic Animal Health and Research Center

Formerly the Fisheries Experiment Station

Read this fact sheet for more information about AAHRC's research objectives and to learn how the DWR is protecting aquatic animal health.

The Aquatic Animal Health and Research Center, formerly known as the Fisheries Experiment Station, was created in the early 1960s to provide technological development and extension support for Utah's fish culture program.

The mission of the Logan, Utah, facility has expanded over the years and now includes fish health management, fish disease control, fisheries research, training, specialized fish culture and administrative involvement with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources aquatics staff.

History of the Aquatic Animal Health and Research Center

Fish disease was a significant challenge in Utah aquaculture during the first half of the 20th century. The lack of regulations for transporting diseased fish stocks, combined with faster shipping methods, caused widespread dissemination of diseases through live fish and eggs. Localized issues quickly escalated into interstate and international problems. Additionally, artificial diets were inadequate, and fish culture methods were poorly defined. Few government programs existed to tackle these issues, and there were no commercial laboratories or pathologists actively researching fish disease control or developing improved diets and culture methods.

Recognizing the need for quality assurance and fish disease control, the Utah Department of Fish and Game established the Experimental Hatchery in Cache Valley in 1961. Over the years, this facility grew substantially, eventually being renamed the Fisheries Experiment Station and later the Aquatic Animal Health and Research Center.

Since its inception, AAHRC has had an active research and development role and has been involved in fish disease control, aquaculture, fish quality assurance, fish health management and fisheries management. The center's staff have conducted intensive fish diet testing, developed fish health-approved brood stocks, and created the Fish Health/Condition Profile — an innovative tool that is now widely used in fishery management across Utah and has been adopted by 32 other states and various federal agencies. Our program is well known and has strong connections to the international fish health community.

In 1986, AAHRC was divided into three specialized sections: Research, Fish Health and Fish Culture. All three continue to operate under the leadership of the center's fish pathologist and director.