MAC News 1st Quarter 2007
By Elizabeth M. Lukan to Marine Aquarium Council on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007.Director’s Note:
MAC’s mission is to conserve coral reefs and other marine ecosystems by creating standards and certification for those engaged in the collection and care of ornamental marine life from reef to aquarium. MAC works to deliver on its mission based on measurable outputs, some of which are outlined below.
The facts speak for themselves. MAC Certified collection areas and collectors are supplying an increased volume, variety and quality of marine ornamentals from managed reefs and fisheries, using environmentally sound practices that support sustainable livelihoods. MAC Certified marine ornamentals from culturing facilities are also now available. An increasing number of MAC Certified exporters, importers and retailers are delivering MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms to hobbyists - and demand for MAC Certified marine ornamentals is growing. Marine aquarists and the marine ornamental industry now have a choice in shaping the future of the hobby and industry.
- Reef area for which management is being developed: 22,947 hectares of reef (in the Philippines and Indonesia alone)
- MAC Certified reef area, i.e. reef management in place: 15,085 hectares of reef (in the Philippines and Indonesia alone)
- Number of collection areas where MAC is working: 14 (Philippines: 10, Indonesia: 4)
- Number of MAC Certified collection areas: 16 (Philippines: 7, Indonesia: 4, Fiji: 5)
- Number of collectors and traders trained in non-destructive collection methods and prepared for third party certification assessment: 718 (Philippines: 483, Indonesia: 235)
- Number of MAC Certified collectors and traders: 426 (Philippines: 247, Indonesia: 179)
- Number of collectors, traders, local government units and NGO workers trained in business skills: 382 (Philippines/Indonesia total)
- Number of MAC Certified organisms from MAC Certified Collection Areas to exporters: 132,473 (Philippines/Indonesia total, July-Dec 2006)
- Percentage of MAC Certified organisms exported: In Fiji, shipments from one exporter to the US are regularly 100% MAC Certified organisms
- Mortality (average fish mortality rate of MAC Certified deliveries to exporters, July-Dec 2006): Philippines: 0.31% Indonesia: 3.0%
- Number of MAC Certified species available: 110 species of MAC Certified fish were recently available in the US
- Number of MAC Certified exporters, importers and retailers: 43 total (Indonesia 6, Philippines 11, Fiji 2, Singapore 3, Canada 1, France 6, Germany 1, Netherlands 2, UK 3, US 8)
- Number of MAC Certified culture facilities: 3 total (UK 1, US 2)
The communities, collectors and companies that have made the commitment to be sustainable and responsible providers of marine ornamentals deserve your support. The marine ornamental trade and hobby can be known either as contributing to the destruction of coral reefs, the poor treatment and death of fish, and the poverty, disability and possibly even the death of marine ornamentals collectors - or it can support the conservation of reefs, the sustainable management of marine ornamental stocks, the use of best practices to ensure fish health and sustainable livelihoods for impoverished fishers in rural villages. The choice is yours.
Message from the Chair of the MAC Board of Directors:
Dear MAC friends and colleagues,
As Chair of the Marine Aquarium Council Board of Directors, I would like to join Paul in announcing his departure as MAC’s Executive Director and President in June 2007. After nine years with MAC, Paul is moving on to new challenges and opportunities.
On behalf of the MAC Board of Directors, I would like to express our enormous appreciation for Paul’s accomplishments in establishing and growing MAC and the MAC Certification system. Paul took up the challenge of starting MAC in June 1998 and worked as the sole MAC staff person for several years, formally setting up the organization, working with stakeholders around the world, drafting the initial MAC Standards, and raising funds for MAC to grow and fulfill its large and complex mission. Under Paul’s leadership, the first international standards for a live animal fishery/trade were launched in 2001, extending across the entire chain of custody of this global industry from reef to retail.
From a one-person start-up organization, Paul has grown MAC to an international company with staff and activities in Fiji and other Pacific Islands, France, Germany, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Stakeholders from many more countries contact MAC regularly to request assistance as well. Paul has not only advanced MAC’s core mission as an international, multi-stakeholder standards setting body, but also initiated significant capacity building programs and partnerships in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Pacific.
In developing countries, MAC’s capacity building work is improving the sustainability of the fishery and trade and thereby improving the lives of the collectors and disadvantaged communities on whom this industry and hobby depend. As a result, skilled collectors with improved livelihoods are supplying an increasing volume, variety, and quality of MAC Certified marine ornamentals from managed reefs that have marine protected areas. In market countries, Paul initiated expansive outreach and awareness raising efforts to communicate with the public and marine ornamental stakeholders - especially the industry and hobbyists - about the potential for a responsible marine aquarium trade to support reef conservation, managed fisheries, healthy marine animals, and safe, sustainable livelihoods for collectors of marine ornamentals.
Under Paul’s direction, MAC has become the global leader in transforming the marine aquarium fishery and trade to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Through the efforts of the dedicated team that Paul has assembled and managed, over one hundred MAC Certifications have been achieved by collection areas, collectors, exporters, importers, and retailers in ten countries. MAC has demonstrated that third-party certification can be adapted to the needs of rural, small-scale producers in developing countries, and to the complexities of a fishery and global chain of custody for live animals. Paul has created a network of MAC partners and supporters around the world that form a solid basis for MAC to build on in further implementing its mission in the years to come.
As a result of Paul’s dedication and commitment, MAC and MAC Certification are well established for continued success in transforming the marine ornamentals trade to sustainability for the benefit of the coral reefs, fisheries, collectors, coastal communities, and responsible businesses and aquarium keepers. We wish Paul well in his future endeavors.
Signed: Steve Broad, MAC Board Chair
Certification Update:
MAC Compliance with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice
The International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling (ISEAL) Alliance brings together the international standards setting and accreditation organizations such as MAC, the Marine Stewardship Council, the Fair Trade Labeling Organization and others. ISEAL has developed a Code of Good Practice for international social and environmental standard setting through a multi-stakeholder process. The code ensures that a standard reflects the priorities of concerned stakeholders, addresses all material issues, and effectively achieves its stated social and environmental objectives. MAC has developed the MAC Standard Setting Procedure according to the ISEAL Code of Good Practice, as is required for continued membership in ISEAL. This document was subject to peer review by other ISEAL members and includes procedures on: developing new standards, review and revision of the existing MAC Standards, complaint resolution mechanisms, and a number of other areas. Additional information about the ISEAL and the Code of Good Practice for Standards Setting is available at www.isealalliance.org.
International Outreach Campaign for Industry Operators Interested in the MAC HHT Certification Preparation Kit
MAC is undertaking an outreach campaign to contact industry operators that have signed the MAC Statement of Commitment and Support (SOC), and other interested industry members, to distribute the newly available MAC Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) Certification Preparation Kit. The Kit has been requested by many of those contacted and is resulting in an increasing number of industry operators publicly stating their interest in supporting MAC by signing the SOC.
For example, the first industry operators from Norway and Sweden interested in MAC Certification have received the Certification Preparation Kit. The Kit will assist them in getting ready for certification assessment by a third party MAC Accredited certifier. The facilitated certification process resulting from the use of this Kit should lead to an increasing number of importers and retailers achieving MAC Certification - making the way for an increase in the volume of MAC Certified organisms available in Europe and North America.
The HHT Certification Preparation Kit is available upon request at: info@aquariumcouncil.org and in the near future by downloading it from the MAC website: http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/.
MAC Supply Chain Task Team Works with Certified Companies to Validate and Improve the Flow of Certified Supply
The MAC Supply Chain Task Team (SCTT) was formed to bring together the MAC staff from the main supply and market countries with MAC Certified operations to facilitate the movement of MAC Certified marine ornamentals through the entire supply chain, from reef to retail. The MAC representatives from Indonesia, the Philippines, Europe and North America meet by conference call every 1-2 weeks to coordinate supply and demand efforts in partnership with the certified industry operators.
One area of focus for the SCTT has been to help ensure that hobbyists and industry operators have complete and accurate information on the ornamental species that are available from the MAC Certified collection areas. The team is compiling lists of the species that may be available, their relative abundance in an area and any known seasonal variability. Accurately identified organisms on stock lists are important to collectors, exporters, importers and retailers so that they may know which species they are collecting, selling and purchasing - and ultimately making available to the aquarium keeper. At the other end of the chain of custody, accurate species identification is critical for resource managers working in the field, as limits to Total Allowable Catch (TAC) are assigned to individual species at each certified collection area. Hobbyists benefit when everyone is aware of the full variety of species available that have been collected responsibly and sustainably at the MAC Certified collection areas by MAC Certified collectors.
These species lists and the efforts to correct identification errors within the trade are just one part of a broad mission taken by MAC to help bring improved information to the industry and hobby that contributes to achieving sustainability. By knowing exactly which species are available for trade, waste and disappointment can be reduced from incorrectly identified organisms being sold. Collectors can more accurately know the species that are being ordered, and therefore properly apply the limits of harvest in order to maintain their renewable resources. Responsible hobbyists have an ever-growing choice of MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms and can ensure that there is a sustainable future for coral reefs and the marine ornamental hobby by supporting MAC Certified aquarium industry operators. For more information about MAC and the complete list of MAC Certified industry operators, please visit the MAC website at: http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/.
Philippines Update:
Three New MAC Certified Collection Areas and Collectors Groups: Hambongan, Tara and New Busuanga
The three collection areas recently assessed for compliance with both the MAC Ecosystem and Fishery Management (EFM) and the Collection, Fishing and Handling (CFH) international Standards have become successfully MAC Certified. These additional certifications raise the number of MAC Certified collection areas in the Philippines to seven (7), and increase the number of MAC Certified collectors and traders to one hundred sixty-five (165).
Located in the most northern part of the province of Palawan, New Busuanga and Tara Island, the new MAC Certified communities provide additional volume and a larger variety of MAC Certified species to the Manila-based MAC Certified exporter, Aquarium Habitat. The species include, but are not limited to:
- Blueface/Yellowface Angel (Pomacanthus xanthometapon)
- Blue Koran Angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus)
- Blue/Sapphire Damsel (Chrysiptera cyanea)
- Blue Tang/Palette Surgeonfish (Paracanthurus hepatus)
- Chelmon/Copperband Butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)
- Emperor Angel (Pomacanthus imperator)
- False Percula Clown (Amphiprion ocellaris)
- Goldtail Damsel (Chrysiptera parasema)
- Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum), and
- Sixline Angelfish (Pomacanthus sexstriatus)
The MAC Certified Hambongan Island collection area, located in the Bohol province, further expands the supply of MAC Certified marine ornamentals from seven (7) collection sites around the island, providing a selection of marine ornamentals that includes:
- African Clown (Amphiprion clarkii)
- Chelmon/Copperband Butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)
- Domino Damsel (Dascyllus trimaculatus)
- Green Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus), and
- Springer’s Damsel (Chrysiptera springeri).
The increased volume and variety of MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms are making their way to North America and Europe via MAC Certified exporters and importers. MAC Certified marine ornamentals must be sold by MAC Certified retailers to maintain their certified status. Unfortunately, at this time, there are only limited numbers of MAC Certified retailers. Aquarium keepers should encourage their retailers to contact MAC at: info@aquariumcouncil.org and seek assistance in becoming prepared for certification.
Graduation Ceremony of MAC Certified Collectors from Napumamapa, in Inabanga
On 28 February 2007, the MAC Certification of Napumamapa collectors was celebrated with a graduation ceremony attended by over one thousand participants. At the ceremony, Mayor Josephine Socorro Jumamoy highlighted that “indeed, it is the pride of the Municipality of Inabanga that the Marine Aquarium Council has recognized the seventeen (17) collectors from Hambongan Island as following the highest international standards and best practices in protecting the coral reefs and in ensuring responsible and sustainable marine aquarium trade.” The Mayor presented to Macario Elle (Hambongan Island’s village chief and trader) the two MAC Certificates for his community’s compliances with both the EFM and CFH Standards.
These collectors already supply more than one hundred seventy-six (176) species (out of the two hundred thirty-five (235) species found in the area) to two MAC Certified exporters, Cebu Mactan Quality Marine Aquarium Fish (CMQMAF) in Cebu and HD Marine World in Manila. The volume of MAC Certified fish reaching Europe and North America will certainly grow with this added supply.
The graduation ceremony coincided with the launch of the five (5) year Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Plan of the municipality and the State of the Fisheries Address of the outgoing Mayor. In her speech, Mayor Jumamoy credited MAC and its two partners, Reef Check and the Conservation and Community Investment Forum (CCIF), in assisting the municipality to step up its CRM program initiatives and for the international distinction earned by the Hambongan collectors. The CRM Plan incorporates key strategies for promoting the sustainable management of the marine ornamental collection sites in the area.
This daylong celebration in Inabanga was also graced by Julius Herrera, Vice Governor of the Province of Bohol, along with Homi Jamshed from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Andres Bojos, Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).
Indonesia Update:
Certification Progress for the Pulau Seribu and Buleleng Collection Areas
In December 2006 assessments took place in the Jakarta Bay and Bali for three (3) collectors groups and seven (7) suppliers, as well as in Jakarta and Bali for four (4) exporters. Assessment reports have been issued by a third-party MAC Accredited certifier, with the implementation of corrective actions taken at the Pulau Seribu, and Buleleng collection areas. Issues that were raised for further attention included the need for improved stakeholder support to the collectors, long-term training support, consistency in the users of best practices for collection and handling techniques, equipment maintenance, and the need for suppliers (including exporters) to insist on feedback from their buyers so that they can continue improving the quality of the stock they sell. It was acknowledged that the collectors in particular, had come a very long way in terms of improvement in a relatively short time, given their need to break old habits perpetuated over some twenty (20) years. With the undertaking of the corrective actions, these areas and collectors groups will soon be able to finalize their MAC Certified status.
Capacity Building Continues in Pulau Seribu
MAC and its partners continue to assist the Pulau Seribu collectors and stakeholders in capacity building to strengthen implementing of their no-take zones, understanding the concept of sustainable fisheries and developing the collectors” business skills. Due to the status of the collection areas, designated as “multiple use zones” within the Marine National Park, this program is undertaken in cooperation with the Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Forestry National Parks Department. With strong community-based resource management established, authorities are supporting these communities by taking on the responsibility of providing training, patrols and resource surveys for the future. The success of this collaboration over the long-term depends on establishing regular meetings and other communications between the stakeholders, and the regular updating and sharing of collection data, so that authorized collection limits are maintained.
Information Sharing Between a Swiss Importer and Collectors in Tejakula
An information sharing session was organized at a MAC Certified exporter facility in Tejakula (North Bali coast) between a Swiss marine ornamental importer and the collectors and suppliers, providing a good opportunity for all to share concerns about good practices. While there are some general principles and guidelines in the trade for optimizing quality and survivability of stock, there is still a great deal of debate among the industry about which “best practices” are preferred. As a result, the critique of current practices used by collectors and the techniques to improve them can vary greatly from one importer to another one. The information sharing session led to a lively discussion, with the collectors attempting to provide a “reality check” to the importer, and trying to explain how difficult it often is to implement best practices under the prevailing conditions. This informative and enjoyable interaction reassured collectors about the role and concerns of importers, in particular when time and effort are made to visit collectors in their communities. This type of interaction and support are essential to the continued improvement of quality and sustainability of marine ornamentals.
New Office for MAC Indonesia
MAC Indonesia has recently moved. The new office and contact information are:
MAC Indonesia / MAMTI Office
JL. Tirta Nadi No. 2
Kelurahan Sanur Kauh
Kecamatan Denpasar Selatan 80227 Bali
Indonesia
Ph: +62 361 8427168
Fax: +62 361 286806
Pacific Update:
Solomon Islands Tsunami Impacts MAC and the Aquarium Trade
On 2 April a tsunami struck Gizo town and surrounding areas of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. We were concerned about anyone that suffered from this, but were particularly concerned about MAC Consultant Greg Bennet and the staff of our project partners in the area from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the World Fish Centre. These people are all based in the Gizo area and have been implementing the project on sustainable marine aquarium fisheries and aquaculture that is regularly reported on in the MAC News. On 10 April, we thankfully were able to confirm that they were safe and sound. The aquaculture training facility in Gizo suffered significant damage. Many coastal communities in the area that harvest marine ornamentals were also hard hit by the tsunami. The home of Greg’s family was destroyed and we encourage you to support the reconstruction needs in the Solomon Islands.
The tsunami highlights again the difficult and dangerous living conditions of many of the coastal communities involved in the marine aquarium trade. The collection and export of marine ornamentals provides one of the few potentially sustainable livelihood options in many of these areas, which usually have very limited social services for the local communities. Collectors deserve to work in safe conditions and be adequately compensated for their efforts, as this is often the only means they have to support themselves and their families.
Solomon Islands: Creating Rural Livelihoods through Environmentally Friendly Aquaculture of Marine Ornamentals
A Tridacna clam culturing workshop was held from 30 January to 2 February 2007 at Nusa Tupe in Gizo, Solomon Islands. This was the third series of marine livelihood workshops - made possible by the support of New Zealand - as part of the Solomon Islands partnership of MAC, the World Fish Centre and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) South Pacific. This workshop delivered the long awaited first batch of hatchery reared giant clams to the twelve (12) workshop participants from Gizo communities and nearby islands who now have the opportunity to become clam farmers and seek MAC Certification.
Upon consultation with project partners, two sites were selected: Babanga (Maeraki) and Saeragi for the development of a Mariculture Area Management Plan (MAMP). During February and March, visits were made to three farmers and to other members of their communities to gather information for the MAMP.
The fragmented corals from the project have been quite popular with the exporter, Aquarium Arts Solomon Islands (AASI). Since early January, the Nusa Tupe facility has sent about one hundred forty-five (145) hard and soft corals to AASI. In general, there is a preference for bright colors ones (blue, pink and yellow) as well as for the ones with nice branches and being of appropriate size and well attached to the substrate.
Establishment of Non Detriment Findings and Hard Coral Quotas for Fiji
As Fiji is a major exporter of live coral under CITES, developments are underway to establish quotas regulating the quantity of coral exported. At present, the export quotas for Fiji are set at arbitrary levels. The aim of this new effort is to provide scientific information towards the establishment of a comprehensive export quota for live hard corals that fulfils the CITES Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) requirements.
This work will be able to build on efforts undertaken by MAC in 2005 to develop proposed NDF methods and provide information to help ensure that the coral and live rock trade in Fiji were environmentally responsible and in compliance with CITES. Following two workshops, MAC developed potential methods for Fiji to use in assessing live coral and live rock resources and managing both the extraction operations and impacts. Field assessments were conducted in four (4) collection areas: Kalokolevu, Moturiki, Vitogo/Naviti/Marou and Vatukarasa. In addition, a system was proposed for ranking key attributes of the collection area and coral species under consideration, providing an adaptive framework for developing quotas as better information becomes available. An extraction rating system was also proposed as a method for establishing live rock quotas in Fiji, based on the extraction rate calculated from exported quantities over a certain period and the standing stock as determined from field surveys.
The work by MAC was undertaken for the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), based on a request to SPREP from Fiji. Recommendations from the project included:
- Capacity building in Fiji to undertake resource assessments and interpret results with training of local scientists and government officials.
- Resource assessments in all live coral harvesting areas and live rock extraction areas in Fiji to assist in the establishment of scientifically (resource) based quotas using the proposed methods for live coral and live rock.
- Site-specific management planning for all collection areas.
A copy of the MAC report to SPREP is available upon request to: info@aquariumcouncil.org.
New Zealand Import Health Standard for Ornamental Fish
The import health standard for the importation of ornamental fish into New Zealand from all countries has been amended. The following changes were made to the import health standard as a result of public consultation on 4 August 2006:
- Clarification of the documentation required accompanying consignments
- Clarification of the steps required when a biosecurity direction is given, and
- Update of format according to more recent import health standard format including definitions, additions, removal and clarification of species as stated in the Review of Submissions document.
A copy of the Review of submissions may be located on the MAF Biosecurity NZ website at: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/strategy-and-consultation/consultation/ihs#animals [Editor’s Note: url no longer valid for ornamental fish information, 09/16/07]. The new standard is dated 15 January 2007 and replaces that dated 24 May 2002. The new standard can be located on this website using the following link: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/fisornic.all.htm.
Europe Update:
MAC HHT Certification Preparation Kit Available in German
After the review by members of the MAC Certified Industry Group in Europe, the MAC HHT Certification Preparation Kit was launched and distributed in English to SOC signers and interested industry operators. To facilitate the use of the Kit among key countries, it is being translated into French, Italian and Spanish and is already available in German upon request at: info@aquariumcouncil.org.
The MAC Certified companies in Europe provided useful and encouraging feedback in the Kit development. For example, David Isham of Tropical Marine Centre (UK) noted: “I think that it [the Certification Preparation Kit] is very clearly laid out and written in clear English, which makes it easy to understand. It looks like an ideal preparation for companies interested in certification.” This sentiment is now also reflected in the acceptance of the Kit among interested industry operators in Germany, which is leading to increased interest in certification and support of MAC programs to sustain the increasing marine ornamental trade among industry operators and hobbyists in Germany.
The complete list of MAC Certified industry operators is available at the MAC website: www.aquariumcouncil.org.
New EU Animal Health Requirements Affecting Marine Ornamental Imports
In December 2006, European Commission Decision 2003/858/EC regulating the health certification of animal imports was extended to include all tropical ornamental fish caught in the wild and imported for the purpose of being kept in aquaria. The import of marine ornamental fish into the EU requires that the source country is a listed member of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and also that health certificates are completed. In April 2007, the import of ornamental fish from non-OIE member countries will become illegal. This regulation will also affect the import of MAC Certified fish from MAC Certified collection areas and exporters in Fiji. Fiji is not yet a member of the OIE, as is true for most Pacific island countries.
North America Update:
Growing Variety of MAC Certified Marine Ornamental Species Available
The available variety of MAC Certified species continues to increase in North America. This is primarily due to the expansion of the number of MAC Certified species being exported from the Philippines. As of March 2007, over one hundred ten (110) species of MAC Certified marine ornamental organisms have been shipped to certified importers in North America. Some interesting species that have been recently imported are Black Sailfin Blenny (Atrosalarias fuscus fuscus), Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris), Hector’s Goby (Amblygobius hectori), Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus), Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus), Starry Pufferfish (Arothron stellatus), Six-lined Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) and Wartskin Anglerfish (Antennarius maculatus).
At this time, there are only a few MAC Certified retailers in North America and the number of locations able to sell these marine ornamentals as MAC Certified is limited. Retailers are encouraged to contact MAC at: info@aquariumcouncil.org to find out how they can become leaders in transforming the marine aquarium trade, and gain access to high quality MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms.
MAC Visit to the International Finance Corporation (IFC)
MAC senior staff, Paul Holthus, Arun Abraham and David Mainenti, met with officials at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, in Washington DC on 1 March 2007. IFC is the executing agency for the Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Initiative (MAMTI) that is implemented by MAC in conjunction with partners. The meeting was held to update IFC on MAMTI progress, and propose a series of modifications to the project outputs and indicators based on the initial two years of implementation. The MAMTI team has already consolidated the lessons learned, undertaken internal evaluations and adaptive management, and also hopes to refine the expectations and deliverables for the ongoing project.
In addition to the management level consultations, Paul Holthus and Arun Abraham presented an overview and update on MAC and MAMTI. The thirty (30) attendees included senior managers and officers from the IFC and the World Bank, the IFC-Global Environment Facility liaison officers, and representatives of other donors and organizations. The presentations improved awareness and understanding of MAC Certification among these key partners and clients. There was an appreciation of the challenges faced by MAC and its implementing partners, in trying to transform the marine ornamental trade towards sustainability.
Outreach and Communications Update:
Aquarium Society Declaration of Support Launched
Aquarium keeping societies (or clubs) are one of the major stakeholders collaborating with MAC in its outreach to hobbyists. They present a great opportunity for introducing and updating their members about MAC and its programs. Aquarium societies can help MAC and the future of the marine aquarium hobby by:
- Educating their members about aquarium trade issues and the benefits of the MAC Certification to ensure the industry is sustainable,
- Informing hobbyists about the availability of MAC Certified marine ornamentals,
- Encouraging retailers in their area to become MAC Certified and seek out MAC Certified supplies of marine ornamentals,
- Using their best efforts to help populate their club members’ tanks with MAC Certified marine ornamentals, and
- Linking their society’s website to the MAC website.
Aquarium societies that support MAC can now sign a “Declaration of Support” to acknowledge publicly their interest and support for MAC. Upon reception of the signed form, a direct link from the MAC website to the aquarium society one will be created, according to the MAC website crosslink policy. The aquarium society “Declaration of Support” is available upon request in English, French and Spanish at info@aquariumcouncil.org. The document will soon be available in other European languages.
Along with the launch of the Declaration of Support, MAC also updated the Hobbyist Kit, which is available in English, French and German - and soon in Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. To obtain the Hobbyist Kit, please contact MAC at info@aquariumcouncil.org.
MAC Invited to the Maison de l’Environnement, Nice, France
The City of Nice (France) invited MAC to present issues related to the sustainable marine ornamental trade as part of the Acroporis exhibit “Coral Reefs” at the Maison de l’Environnement. MAC Communications Director, Nathalie Gamain, emphasized through her presentation, the role of hobbyists in ensuring the management of coral reefs and a responsible marine ornamental trade. Indeed, hobbyists need to identify and reward responsible businesses through their purchase of MAC Certified marine ornamentals (i.e., those that were collected, handled and transported in a sustainable manner) to stock their reef aquariums; and if as in southern France - there are no MAC Certified retailers, hobbyists need to encourage their aquarium shop to seek MAC Certification and work with MAC Certified suppliers.
Sensitization of Students to MAC Programs in Chicago, Illinois- USA
North America Director John Brandt gave a slideshow and video presentation to over two hundred (200) middle school students at Sacred Heart School in Chicago, Illinois. Students studying oceanography and ecology were introduced to the MAC mission and programs and viewed the MAC public service video with narration by Alexander Gould (the voice of Nemo from the movie Finding Nemo). The public service video will be available from the MAC website at: www.aquariumcouncil.org in the near future.
Liz’s Notes: Editing was limited to spelling and grammar corrections and formatting. Remember to visit the MAC website at www.aquariumcouncil.org for more information and to subscribe to their newsletter.
