One Health Concepts and the Aquatic Ecosystem

Oceans and other wetlands cover approximately 70% of the Earth's surface and represent some of the most vital and dynamic ecosystems on the planet. These aquatic environments provide essential functions that support both planetary and human well-being - from regulating climate through carbon sequestration and influencing weather patterns, to sustaining biodiversity and supplying food and livelihoods to billions of people. They act as buffers against extreme weather events, nurseries for marine life, and crucial components of global nutrient and water cycles. Despite their critical role, however, oceans and wetlands remain underrepresented in the One Health discourse, which traditionally focuses more on terrestrial ecosystems such as rainforests, agricultural zones, and urban environments. The resilience of these aquatic systems is therefore deeply interlinked with human and animal health and marine pollution. Overfishing, climate-induced ocean acidification, and the spread of aquatic-borne diseases are all pressing issues that have direct and indirect impacts on public health, food security, and socio-economic stability - particularly for coastal and island communities. Recognizing oceans and wetlands as central components of the One Health framework is therefore essential for developing holistic and effective strategies to address public health challenges, and integrating One Health into research, policy, and practice is scientifically necessary and crucial for achieving long-term sustainability and resilience in a rapidly changing world. This book addresses that disparity of integration and tackles the main concepts of One Health using aquatic environments. It thus covers: - Definitions of One Health concepts and the use of One Health in practice; - The value of water-based environments and their importance in the implementation of One Health programs; - Important cross-sectoral topics such as epidemiology, health economics and statistics, biosecurity, governmental policy, food security, and underreported zoonoses. This textbook explores the interconnectedness between aquatic ecosystems and human health through the lens of the One Health approach. It also aligns with a number of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and has been written as an accessible resource for students, researchers, and practitioners working within the One Health framework.

Laura Urdes is a Counselor for European Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Research in Romania, and an Affiliate Professor of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University "Spiru Haret", Bucharest, Romania. Laura has a PhD and a BSc in Veterinary Medicine, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Livestock Health. She is a WAVMA CertAqV in Aquatic Veterinary Medicine, and a WAVMA Fellow. She is currently enrolled in a second Doctoral degree, on the Operationalization of One Health.Laura worked as a Policy Officer (SNE) at the One Health Unit - DG SANTE. Within the European Union, she was involved in the development and implementation of policy initiatives and monitoring of policy developments of One Health, dealing with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Chapters of the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Public Health issues, the EEA EFTA Agreement, and the enlargement process of the European Union in the Western Balkans. Her fields of expertise are One Health - One welfare, fish pathogens, environmental pollution indicators, zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and prevention and management of livestock disease outbreaks. She has helped the development and implementation of veterinary trainingprograms, and she is advocating for the role of the veterinary profession in ensuring effective One Health institutionalization and operationalization.

Chris is currently a Director of C&J Walster Ltd a veterinary consultancy, as well as acting as a consultant to the Island Veterinary Associates part of Independent Vetcare Ltd. He's been involved in aquatic veterinary medicine for 33 years, mainly in the ornamentals sector, with interests in veterinary education, epidemiology, zoonoses, one health and animal welfare.As well as running a seven centre veterinary practice, he was Veterinary Consultant to Mag Noy Israel Ornamental Fish between 1996 and 2000. A member of the Fish Veterinary Society Committee (FVS) from 1996 to present, the Executive Board of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) from 2006, and currently their Administrative Coordinator. In 2012 he was elected a Fellow of WAVMA and in 2015 he was WAVMA President. Since 2008 he has encouraged the uptake of effective and efficient biosecurity practices within aquaculture through combining epidemiology, animal health economics and risk management methodologies under the umbrella of One Health.Chris is co-editor of a textbook about aquatic veterinary medicine, which is currently undergoing publishing.

Dr. Tepper graduated from York College of CUNY, then went to Europe to study veterinary medicine, graduating with honors from the University de Liege in Brussels, Belgium in 1976. Returning that year to NYC, he began practicing and held a special interest in birds and exotic animals. He worked at and owned the Shirley Veterinary Hospital, Shirley, NY 11967 from 1978- 2009. After many requests from clients, he opened the Long Island Fish Hospital in 1998 to care for the health of pet fish.Dr. Tepper served as Treasurer of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine from 2006- 09, as an Officer on the Executive Board of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) since its formation in 2006 through 2012, and as President in 2011. He was honored by WAVMA in 2012 as one of five to be named as a Fellow. In 2013, he was certified by WAVMA as an aquatic veterinarian (CertAqV). He has been a member of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, Association of Avian Veterinarians, the AVMA and state and local veterinary associations.With a special interest in ponds, watergardens and koi, Dr. Tepper developed a phytoremedial device for water quality improvement and received a U.S. patent for this invention. Dr. Tepper has authored many papers on fish health and pondkeeping and is co-editor of two textbooks on aquatic veterinary medicine and has contributed chapters to several others.