Jan Lovy is the division's fish pathologist and conducts disease monitoring and research in wild and hatchery-raised fish populations throughout the state. Jan has had an interest in fish health since he completed a Bachelor degree specializing in Aquaculture from Unity College, ME. In 2008 he obtained a Ph.D. in Fish Pathology from the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Between 2008 and 2012 he was active in fish health research working in research labs in Prince Edward Island, Canada (AVC), the Czech Republic (Academy of Sciences), and in British Columbia, Canada (Pacific Biological Station). His research included comparative fish pathology, immunology, parasitology, and virology.

For more information on fish health research in New Jersey contact Dr. Lovy at:

Dr. Jan Lovy
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife
605 Pequest Rd
Oxford, NJ 07863
Office Tel: 908-637-4173 ext. 120
Email: Jan.Lovy@dep.nj.gov

Sarah Friend is a fish health technician in the fish pathology lab. She received her Master's degree at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, focusing on the immune response of Atlantic salmon to parasites.

Sarah became interested in fish health and diseases while employed as the Husbandry Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. While there, she supervised a team of aquarium biologists and was responsible for ensuring the health, water quality and proper nutrition of the fish and invertebrate collections.