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Koi Club of the Air Show
Intelligent talk about koi fish and their backyard pond and water garden environments

• Pan Intercorp Reveals KHV In Their Distribution Chain from Japan to U.S.
  Nozomi Young
  Koi Show Cancellation
  
  It is with deepest regrets that we are announcing the cancellation of the Nozomi Young Koi Show which was scheduled to be held on June
  14th 2008 at Pan Intercorp
  in Kenmore Washington.
  
  We have just received word from one of our major suppliers in Japan, that Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) has been confirmed in one of their mud ponds.
  
  
  Pan Intercorp is an industry leader in quarantine, testing and health management protocols, and we take the threat of KHV very seriously.
  
  In view of our close relationship with this breeder and the large number of koi that we have from their farm, we feel that it is only prudent that we re-test all our current inventory for KHV before allowing any koi to enter or leave our Kenmore facility.
  
  We anticipate that re-testing our current inventory from this breeder for Koi Herpes Virus antibodies will take between two to four weeks.
  
  We understand and regret the inconvenience that this cancellation will cause to those who have made travel plans to attend the Nozomi Young Koi Show, but until we can complete the re-testing, we feel that this is the proper action to take.
  
  Pan Intercorp
  
  
  Points to Note:
  -The situations that have occurred in Florida with findings of KHV were not from a domestic source. It is possible the koi found in Florida came from the same source Joel described in his letter.
  
  -Joel notes he already tests his fish and will test them again. Is that necessary? Or is it that Pan Intercorp does random tests and not actually "tests all fish" as some might be led to believe?
  
  -KHV positive koi are in the imported koi distribution system in the U.S. and now a potential source has been identified. How many other khv positive koi may have been distributed throughout the U.S.? If this was a health threat to people wouldn't all the points of distribution from this supplier and their customers be identified to curb the spread?
  
  -How many further points of distribution of carriers of this disease from these incidents occur through club fish auctions, fish rescue redistributions, etc? Is real accountability even desired?
  
  -If Joel at Pan Intercorp is or is not following all the protocols of the proposed AKCA Best Health Practices program it should have some significance as a case study in how the program can best serve the community.
  
  Furthermore a similar point regarding transparency was made at koiphen.com a few minutes ago with:
  
  If people wish to place their faith in the Shinkokai, etc., they are welcome to do that. I think for all the reasons stated, it is probably a reasonably safe thing to do. However, the purpose of not disclosing the breeder is to protect the industry, not the public and that should tell you something. They tell you "We promise to be vigilant and handle these things but you must accept that we will never tell you who was infected." It may be a viable way of handling this, but most people are not going to be trusting without a reasonable amount of disclosure. However, to suggest that because they are Japanese they are worthy of more trust is just silly. That sentiment is an irrational romanticizing of the Japanese culture. No culture is exempt from dishonesty and self interest, that I am aware of.
  
• New KHV Cases Discussed in AKCA & Industry Forum
  Forum discussion with AKCA Project KHV Director Spike Cover, Kari Peters of Kari Peters & Sons Koi & Pond Supply, Robert Myers of Shizuka Ponds & Koi, and Dave Jones, excutive director of the International Professional Pond Contractors Association. Topic discussion was the proposed Best Health Practices voluntary program being developed based upon recommendations from the AKCA scientific committee and how such a program might have prevented the instances confirmed in May of dealer/s spreading KHV into the hobbyist community.
• Springbrook Koi Farm Owner Discusses Brood stock Theft
  May 6 Audio Show from the Springbrook Koi Farm brood stock theft in Oregon. Is there really a black market for stolen high end koi in the United States? Plus, new on the 2008 AKCA Seminar in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Kodama Koi Farm President Interview
  Interview with Taro Kodama, president of Kodama Koi Farm of Hawaii about their koi auction business and the upcoming 50,000 Koi Auctioned celebration April-May 15. Over $10,000 in Sweepstake prizes to be awarded.
• Spike Cover, Director, AKCA Project KHV. Cover describes the "Koi Dealer Best Health Practices Certification Program"
  January 17 Show with Spike Cover, Director, AKCA Project KHV. Cover describes in his own words the who, what, when, where, and how's of the proposed new program called, "Koi Dealer Best Health Practices Certification Program""pdf file describing program" Cover expects the program to be in beta testing in the Summer or Fall of 2008. Beta-testing dealer volunteers are to contact Spike Cover for more information.
• What is Aquatic Research Environmental Associates?
  December 15 Audio Show includes an interview with Jason Mulvihill and Deborah O'Haver of AREA the Aquatic Research Environmental Associates about their design work and discount buyer opportunities for hobbyists and large scale commercial aquaculture operators alike. Jason's grandfather Paul was head of Naval Intelligence in Japan prior to 1968 when he founded the company in the Redlands. It was Japan where he developed his love for the hobby that led to their fish and shrimp production and research operations in the U.S. More interesting information to come from Mulvihill and his interesting international operations in future editions of the Koi Club of the Air.
• Rainbow River Koi Club Introductions
  December 8 Audio Show includes conversation with Sonja Kohkola, president of the Rainbow River Koi Club of Dunnellon, Florida, a brand new AKCA member club (club's first newsletter pdf download).Plus, new science documenting the "burst-coast" swimming pattern in koi and considerations one should have when choosing proper air pumps for the koi pond and water garden. This study was released through the Journal of Experimental Biology from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing in June 2007. Lots more to come on such studies in upcoming Koi Club of the Air & Koi News Network programming.
• North Florida Koi Club 2007 Show Review & More!
  November 21st Audio Show After another successful North Florida Koi Show their Club and Show President and Cohost of the Koi Club of the Air chats with Hawley about the event and nuances that effect participants including, how to find a bargain or your best buy on koi from a participating vendor. This isn't like buying retail where you can only purchase a koi for what is on the price tag. There is an opportunity at a koi show to haggle over price. Plus, different times during the show offer different opportunities. The best show quality fish may only be available at the beginning of the show, but there may be little or no chance for getting to negotiate the price, while on the final day of show often the dealers are motivated to sell. There is also a discussion between Todorsky and Hawley on the James Reilly's recent KOI USA article on Winter Koi. Plus, is there a cookie cutter method to koi keeping where you can for instance get a Koi Keeping for Dummies book that lays out the one lone path that one must take? What is a koi philosophy and do you have one? These are some of the topics discussed in this edition of the Koi Club of the Air.
• WAVMA's Dr. Peter Merrill & Add-A-Sphere's Susie Faircloth interviews
  October 31st Audio We were joined by Dr. Peter L. Merrill, DVM, president of the World Aquatic Veterinarian Medical Association, and a senior staff veterinarian with APHIS. He shared with us the history of WAVMA.org, their operation and direction. Associate members in the future might be the Associated Koi Clubs of America. How do we distinguish between animal rights and animal welfare and the relationship to our pet fish. Those are a few of the issues discussed with Dr. Merrill. Plus, Susie Faircloth, manufacturer and distributor for Add-A-Sphere at www.addasphere.com joined us with a description of their very interesting product and the history of her new company.
• Koi Nation's Michael Cox Interview
  October 10th Audio Show with KOI NATIONS Publisher & Editor Michael Cox who shares with the audience the beginnings of this U.S. based publication that covers the koi-keeping hobby internationally. Cox explains the careful approach that he has taken in producing what has certainly been one of the most talked about publications in the hobby. KOI NATIONS made it