No Fish Health Regulations: The Real Regulatory Hurdle     Andrew E. Goodwin   Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 1200 N. University Dr, Mail Slot 4912, Pine Bluff, AR 71601          The Arkansas perspective on “regulatory hurdles to the management of new and emergent diseases” is likely to be very different than that of my colleagues from salmonid-producing states.  Arkansas is second in the country in the value of the aquaculture crop and stands second in catfish production, and first in Asian carps, baitfish, feeder fish, hybrid striped bass fingerling, sport fish, and largemouth bass food fish production.  In addition, the state has some of the finest trout fishing in the world, an effort supported by a network of state and federal trout hatchery and grow out facilities.  Many of these industries are dependant on mass movements of live fish from Arkansas to other states and countries, and from elsewhere to Arkansas.  Thus our potential exposure to new diseases is enormous, however, the state has absolutely no laws regulating fish movement or health. The reasons for this seeming paradox are quite complex.  A major consideration is that the size and diversity of the industry would make it very difficult to establish a uniform health code.  Equally important is the perception by the farmers that fish health regulations would inhibit trade without providing any real benefit.  The perception persists because farmers (1) feel that all of the diseases are already everywhere and are just triggered by poor husbandry or climate,  (2)    are worried that public disclosure of fish health data would harm their marketing efforts, (3) understand the deficiencies with regulations of other states and countries.  Some recent near misses with potentially devastating infectious diseases and public experience with largemouth bass virus have raised farmer awareness of the potential of exotic diseases to devastate their production, however, marketing concerns and an acute distrust of government regulations still outweigh perceived benefits from additional regulation.