Utahs aquatic animal health and research center is designed to provide administrative, research and aquaticanimal health services for the utah division of wildlife resources (udwr)

This $980,000 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) supports the operations of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' (UDWR) Aquatic Animal Health and Research Center. The Center provides administrative, research, and aquatic animal health services to support fisheries management, conservation, and recreational activities across Utah. Key products and services delivered through this grant include:

• Applied fisheries research to address needs of Utah's sportfish and native fish recovery programs
• Diagnostic and inspection services for statewide monitoring, response, and management of fish pathogens in state fish culture facilities and managed waters
• Data-driven recommendations to state fisheries biologists to promote healthy fish populations, enhance sport fisheries, and improve conservation efforts statewide

The award period runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The funding will enable UDWR to continue its longstanding work in aquatic resource management and public recreation services throughout Utah.

Much of this work is directed towardidentifying and implementing broad scale priorities to help protect, conserve and manage aquatic species andtheir habitats in accordance with regional and statewide objectives. The centers research program has been actively involved in fisheries research since 1986, although informalresearch has been conducted at the location since the early 1960S. Currently the program provides appliedresearch methods to address needs associated with utahs sportfish and native recovery programs. The centersanimal health program plays an extensive role in addressing aquatic animal health issues for both state fishculture facilities and managed waters. This section includes diagnostic and inspection services geared towardstatewide monitoring, quick response, timely reporting and management of fish pathogens within biological andlegal requirements for all sportfish and conservation species needs.results and benefits from this work include data driven recommendations for regional and statewide aquaticsection biologist to meet management goals, promote healthy fish populations, enhance sport fisheries and improveconservation efforts throughout utah.