Career Spotlight – Dr. James Fensham Aquatic Animal Veterinarian
1.What is your current role, and what does a typical day or week look like for you?
Aquatic Animal Veterinarian (Future Fisheries Veterinary Service). I provide field, laboratory, research and technical aquatic animal health and production consultancy services to commercial aquaculture and wild fisheries sectors.
2. How did you find your way into this role — was it a goal from the start or something you discovered along the way?
I developed an interest for aquatic and production animal medicine and epidemiology during my veterinary degree, through placements and coursework, then took a job opportunity with an aquatic animal consultancy following
3. What is the highlight of your job that keeps you passionate and excited to get out of bed?
Learning new things and problem-solving to help a diverse range of clients and patients achieve better outcomes.
4. What were the key steps, opportunities, qualifications, or experiences that helped you get where you are today?
Additional aquatic animal health and medicine education (self-guided or course work) is recommended. An interest in epidemiology, pathology, biosecurity, and production animal medicine is necessary.
“Aquatic animal veterinarians exist, and there are increasing career opportunities for veterinarians in this field within Australia and abroad”
Dr James Fensham – Future Fisheries Veterinary Service (FFVS)
5. What was the biggest challenge in getting into this field, or what is something you wish you had known about earlier?
You need to have an avid appetite for learning, be comfortable working from first principles, making decisions in uncertain situations.
6.What does someone interested in this career need to know before they pursue it?
The job requires flexibility, ongoing learning, ability to effectively communicate to a wide and diverse range of people, and some travel (in cars, planes and boats).
7.Who do you work most closely with, and why is that collaboration important to your role?
There is a lot of collaboration in this role with internal company veterinarians, university researchers, laboratory staff, farm staff, general public.
8.What’s something about your job that would surprise other vets and nurses?
Aquatic animal veterinarians exist, and there are increasing career opportunities for veterinarians in this field within Australia and abroad.
9. What’s the coolest, strangest, or most memorable experience you’ve had in this role?
Snorkeling in a sea cage of southern bluefin tuna to assess them for parasites.
10.What’s your number one piece of advice for a vet or nurse?
