MAC News: Q4 2006

[Piero]

Director’s Note

 

“Healthy Reefs, Healthy Fish, Healthy Hobby”. This simple phrase sums up what MAC is all about - and has been the banner under which an increasing number of renowned leaders in the aquarium-keeping world have lent their voice of support to the mission of MAC. These include, among others: J. Charles Delbeek, Martin Moe, Richard L. Pyle, Julian Sprung, Svein A. Fosså, J.E.N. “Charlie” Veron, Jean M. Jaubert, Bruce Carlson, Gerald Bassleer, Daniel Knop, and Alf Jacob Nilsen.

 

The leaders in transforming the marine aquarium trade to sustainability are also the increasing number of communities, fishers, exporters, importers and retailers that are deciding to be verified as responsible participants in this global industry. From the courageous early participants in MAC Certification, the ranks are growing, as the list of MAC Certified industry participants on the MAC website shows.

 

The everyday leaders in ensuring there is a future for the marine aquarium hobby are the individual aquarists who realize that there would be no fish in their tank if there were not any healthy reefs, healthy fishers and healthy businesses to supply them. An increasing number of aquarium keepers are making a difference just by asking their local store about MAC Certified fish and corals and buying them when they become available. Some hobbyists take the time to write us with questions and messages of support or encouragement, such as a recent note from an aquarium keeper in Illinois (USA), who summed up his email by saying: “I totally support what you are doing!!!” Other leaders in the hobbyists community are going further - such as an East coast hobbyist who is working through his local club to raise donations of materials (long sleeve t-shirts, dive masks) to send to responsible collectors in Indonesia.

 

Working together, we can all be leaders in ensuring that healthy reefs, healthy fish (and corals), healthy businesses, and a healthy hobby are the future for those who care enough to make this happen.

 

CERTIFICATION SYSTEM UPDATE

 

Launch of MAC Certification Preparation Kit

 

MAC has developed an information kit to assist the increasing number of industry wholesalers and retailers interested in becoming MAC Certified in the most time and cost efficient manner as possible and better serve the industry’s needs. This responds to the necessity for a “tool kit” designed for companies willing to become MAC Certified under the MAC Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) international Standard. The “HHT Certification Preparation Kit” provides companies the materials to get started with their certification process as well as to prepare them for a certification assessment by a third-party MAC Accredited certifier, without visits of a MAC representative.

 

The Certification Preparation Kit targets the different users of the MAC HHT international Standard (i.e. exporters, importers and retailers). This kit includes:

- A general background information fact sheet about MAC and its certification system.

- An introduction to the certification process.

- A self-assessment questionnaire and model templates.

- Reference information about MAC Accredited certifiers and the MAC HHT international Standard.

 

This kit guides companies through the certification process with a description of all the steps to be taken. Using the self-assessment questionnaire, companies can easily review whether they have all the necessary policies and procedures in place, and determine their compliance with the requirements of the MAC HHT international Standard. When the questionnaire is completed, the company can contact MAC with the results, with then the opportunity for a MAC representative to carry out a gap analysis and recommend corrective action to be taken in order to help ensure compliance with the MAC HHT international Standard when then formal third-party assessment takes place. The process of self-assessing and following up corrective action will be repeated until all non-conformities are addressed and the MAC representative can recommend the company for certification. During this process, MAC treats all submitted information confidentially.

 

This HHT Certification Preparation Kit has been successfully tested with a pilot program done with the Dutch importer: DeJong Marinelife. This company joined this pilot program after its recent signature of the MAC Statement of Commitment and Support (SOC).

 

At the end of 2006, there are one hundred and forty nine (149) companies in twenty-three (23) countries, which expressed their intention to become MAC Certified. An updated list of those companies is available on MAC website at: www.aquariumcouncil.org.

 

For more information about the HHT Certification Preparation Kit, please contact your nearest MAC representative, or MAC at info@aquariumcouncil.org.

 

PACIFIC UPDATE

 

Creating New Rural Livelihoods from Sustainable Culture of Ornamentals in the Solomon Islands

 

Twenty-seven (27) participants in and around Gizo Island attended the first workshop held last May on post larval fish and invertebrate capture and culture. Participants from four (4) communities (Titiana, Babanga, Vorivori and Saeragi) are now supplying lobsters (Panulirus versicolor) and shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) to the Aquarium Arts Solomon Islands (AASI) on a regular basis. To monitor this trade, this past semester the average productivity per community has been studied. The results have shown that the Babanga (Maeraki) farmers supply eighty (80) lobsters and shrimp per week, the Titiana ones about forty (40), and the Saeragi and Vorivori farmers about twenty (25) each. However, although these figures may look good, there is a surplus of invertebrates being produced as the exporter buys only a hundred (100) lobsters and shrimps per week.

 

>From September 25th to 29th, fifteen (15) fishers, including two women, from different communities around Gizo attended the Coral Culture Workshop at Nusa Tupe. The first days of the workshop were focused on general presentations given on the collection and culture methods for soft and hard coral using environmentally friendly methods. Information about the aquarium trade and an introduction to the MAC Certified chain of custody “from reef to retail” were also provided, along with practical information on responsible methods used to collect and transport marine ornamentals to Honiara, where an exporter is located. After these general presentations, the remaining four (4) days were organized around hands-on practical sessions. Participants were provided the opportunity to see different types of corals that were planted as broodstock, and to handle soft and hard corals and to pack them using best handling practices for export facilities.

 

In November and December, communities focused their activities on establishing coral broodstock in their respective areas. Broodstock is held on steel trestles and cuttings (fragments) are allowed to attach to small discs. Acropora spp. are the most commonly cultured, although several species of soft corals are also being farmed. Communities intend to culture corals by adopting the cuttings techniques highlighted in the guideline of the MAC Mariculture and Aquaculture Management (MAM) international Standard.

 

The communities in and around Gizo have been trained to culture post-larval fish, invertebrates and coral fragments for the aquarium trade. In the coming year, they will be trained to culture giant clams (Tridacna spp.), all as provision of a basket of commodities which is considered the best approach as each community may be suited to different combinations of products, depending on transport, location and environmental characteristics of the reefs.

 

PHILIPPINES UPDATE

 

Newly MAC Certified Collection Areas and Collectors

 

With the recent successful MAC Certification of collection areas and a collectors’ group in Coron, Palawan the volume and variety of MAC Certified fish from the Philippines continues to grow.

 

This past August, the Marcilla Tropical Fish Collectors Association (MTFCA) was assessed for compliance with the MAC Ecosystem and Fishery Management (EFM) and the Collection Fishing and Holding (CFH) international Standards. A MAC Accredited certifier conducted the audit and upon its visit, where satisfactory and complete adherence to corrective action plans were observed, recommended both the area and fishers for MAC Certification.

 

The MTFCA certification expands the variety of MAC Certified organisms available to hobbyists. With a group composed of thirteen (13) MAC Certified collectors and one Certified coordinator, this community of Marcilla is one of the twenty-four (24) villages of the municipality of Coron. It is located in the northeastern part of Calamianes, a cluster of islands and islets in northern Palawan. The MTFCA regularly ships marine ornamentals to Aquarium Habitat and HD Marine, both MAC Certified exporters in Manila. This year, they have mostly traded damselfishes (Striped/Black-tail Humbug), wrasses (Blue Streak cleaner), clownfishes (False Percula, Tomato & Clark’s), butterflyfishes (Chelmon) and angelfishes (Blue Koran/Six-barred).

 

First Retailer in the Philippines to Become MAC Certified

 

With the recent successful assessment of the first retailer seeking the MAC Certification in the Philippines, this country itself has now an unbroken MAC Certified chain of custody “from reef to retail”.

 

The Manila retailer, Direct Aquatic, specializing in saltwater aquarium systems, was assessed for compliance with the MAC HHT international Standard and has become the first retailer to become MAC Certified in the Philippines. For the storeowner, Mike Dizon, becoming MAC Certified represents an important achievement, as he emphasizes: “I am very proud to be the first MAC Certified retailer in the Philippines. I strongly support MAC’s vision and mission.”

 

For an official and updated list of MAC Certified entities, please visit the MAC website at www.aquariumcouncil.org.

 

New Collection Site Assessments

 

These two recent successful MAC Certifications mark the steady progress being achieved in the Philippines, where earlier this year Aquarium Habitat, a Manila exporter, met the requirements for MAC Certification along with three other collection areas and collectors’ groups in Bohol and Palawan.

 

This momentum continued with the assessment of three collection sites in the Philippines for compliance with the MAC EFM and CFH international Standards in late November 2006. The assessed areas involved a total of sixty-four (64) collectors from Hambongan Island (Inabanga) in Bohol, Tara Island (Coron) and New Busuanga (Busuanga) in Palawan. The results of these certification assessments will be known in early 2007. If successful, the addition of these areas will increase the number of MAC Certified collection areas in the Philippines to seven (7) areas, further enlarging the volume and variety of MAC Certified fish to importers, retailers and aquarists willing to be part of a responsible trade and hobby.

 

IT Traceability System: An Important Tool for the Marine Aquarium Trade

 

The ongoing “Information Technology (IT) Traceability” component of the Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Initiative (MAMTI) is an “excellent system for the marine aquarium business” says the representative of the Washington based International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, and funding partner for MAMTI. Dr. Richard Kaguamba, Project Officer in the Biodiversity Unit in the IFC, visited MAMTI project areas in Cebu and Bohol on November 13 and 14, 2006. Kaguamba said that the IT system may have significant applicability in the improvement of the livelihoods of local people who depend on marine resources. As part of his itinerary, Kaguamba joined MAC officer Xavier “Jebjeb” Lopez and tropical fish collector Jeffrey Vitor in actual harvest and collection in the waters around Hambongan Island in Inabanga, Bohol.

 

The IFC Project Officer observed transactions from the collection area at the trader’s end and the exporter’s side at different times during his two-day visit. He observed the process of ordering and confirmation and receipt issuance by the exporter, and order taking and transmittal of shipment information by the trader. The system uses a combination of Internet with short message service (SMS) or “text” message with data flowing through the MAC servers in Manila. The IT Traceability System enables the timely exchange of information “from reef to retail”. Right now the system has been developed to manage workflow and transactions from the fish collector to the trader (consolidator) to the exporter. A second phase of the project will see the system scaled up to the rest of the value chain, including importers and retailers in market countries (i.e.: Europe and North America). The first phase was supported in large part by a grant from the Academy for Educational Development (AED), in partnership with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and a software grant from the Microsoft Corporation. The IT Traceability project was highlighted in the Microsoft 2007 planner (calendar) as one of the community service efforts of the company.

 

INDONESIA UPDATE

 

New Collection Area and Collector Assessments

 

Indonesia supply development efforts are also proceeding steadily. After completing a capacity building program and implementing best practices, a significant number of certification assessments took place in Buleleng and Pulau Seribu districts in December. Ninety-one (91) collectors and seven (7) coordinators took part in this assessment. Both collecting and post harvest skills, including handling, holding, and packing techniques and understanding the concept of marine conservation and sustainable fisheries, were all assessed by the third party MAC Accredited certifier. The presence of local government officials was significant as it showed the authorities’ commitment and support to MAC programs with coastal communities. Results from the assessments and the completion of corrective action plans for these areas and collectors will be known in early 2007, following which there should be a significant increase in the volume and variety of MAC Certified organisms available from Indonesia.

 

Development of Mariculture Training Materials

 

In late 2006, MAC recruited an intern, Colin Foord, to work in Indonesia on the mariculture aspects of the MAC Certification, i.e. the Mariculture and Aquaculture Management (MAM) Standard. During the second semester of 2006, Colin visited several coral mariculture sites in Indonesia, including those in Pulau Seribu and Bali. Colin has consulted and exchanged ideas with coral farmers, coral exporters and importers, and other people working in the marine aquarium trade. He has also helped them by giving practical demonstrations on how to implement best practices in coral mariculture. Based on his experiences, Colin has produced some coral mariculture training materials which will be the first of their kind in Indonesia, and which will be refined and field-tested. MAC hopes that with the introduction of this type of training, local coral farmers and coral traders will be able to improve their mariculture techniques, together with the management of both the broodstock and the mariculture areas.

 

NORTH AMERICA UPDATE

 

MAC at the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA)

 

MAC was present at the MACNA on September 22-24 in Houston, Texas with its booth and North America Director, John Brandt. Hobbyists and industry operators stopped by the exhibit to learn more about MAC and its program progress at this well attended annual event.

 

MAC Presentation Given to Aquarium Society and High School Students

 

John Brandt was the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the West Michigan Marine Aquarium Club in Kalamazoo on November 12, 2006. Members were shown a slideshow, which gave a general introduction to MAC and the issues surrounding a sustainable and non-destructive marine ornamental hobby. This presentation was given to three classes at Portage Central High School in Michigan on the following day.

 

EUROPE UPDATE

 

Botanic Stores Start to Sensitize their Clients to MAC Certification

 

As previously reported, three (3) of the fifty-six (56) stores of the Botanic Group (France) that sell marine ornamentals in Europe will seek to comply with the MAC Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) international Standard, as part of a pilot program. Botanic has started to raise awareness in various ways among its clients and suppliers regarding the adoption of the MAC HHT international Standard.

 

The Botanic Group is dedicated to the sustainable sourcing of all their plant and animals though a corporate policy of sustainability. In relation to the marine ornamentals that they stock, they are committed to the management of corals reefs through best practices and a responsible marine ornamental trade. As part of this, they launched two special events this fall to gather its hobbyists around professionals from the marine ornamental trade.

 

The first event was organized at its new store in Suresnes, France, the first weekend of October 2006. Through a MAC presentation by the MAC Communications Director, Nathalie Gamain, the participants could better understand their role as hobbyists to ensure a responsible marine ornamental trade. They could also discover the fishing methods used by collectors in Indonesia, with the shown video “Transforming the Aquarium Trade with the Industry for Ecological and Economic Sustainability”, for which MAC contributed to its development with the World Wide Fund (WWF) Indonesia.

 

The second event was organized in collaboration with the hobbyist Club Languedocien d’Aquariophilie Marine (CLAM) at the Botanic store in Clapiers, France, where several marine environmental professionals were invited the first weekend of December 2006. At this occasion, MAC introduced the marine ornamental trade via the issues its programs implement to ensure a sustainable and responsible industry. MAC participation, at both events, was possible through the generous support of Aquarium Systems.

 

MAC OUTREACH and COMMUNICATIONS

 

MAC Awareness Raising with Norwegian Stakeholders

 

MAC was invited to the Norwegian Companion Animal Conference held in Oslo, Norway (September 19-20, 2006). In her presentation, Ms Gamain was able to sensitize the participants (governments representatives, retailers and veterinarians) about their role to enhance sustainable management of coral reefs through best practices, a responsible marine ornamental trade and MAC Certification.

 

The European Aquarium Community Continues to Support MAC

 

The annual European Union Aquarium Curator (EUAC) meeting (October 2- 7, 2006) in Brest, France provided MAC a great opportunity to strengthen its collaboration with European institutions.

The EUAC MAC working group, which gathered for the first time at the 2005 EUAC meeting in Lisbon, presented its activities for the past year and the objectives for 2007. Some of the issues covered by this working group are the acquisition of marine ornamentals and sensitization programs.

 

After this report, the MAC Communications Director highlighted through her presentation “the Role of Public Aquariums to Enhance a Sustainable Marine Ornamental Trade”, in particular by providing examples of conservation, education and sensitization programs taken by some European institutions this past year.

 

MAC continues to receive indications of support from public aquariums around the world, such as Nausicaa (France), which recently sent its signed “MAC Public Aquarium Statement of Support”. For institutions to receive this form and submit this to MAC, and those interested to participate in the EUAC MAC working group, please contact info@aquariumcouncil.org.

 

MAC Co-convenes Workshop on Certification and Sustainable Fisheries at the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress

 

At the recently convened EAS Congress in Haikou, China (December 12-16, 2006), the MAC Asia-Pacific Operations Director, Arun Abraham, co-convened a workshop on “Certification and Sustainable Fisheries: the Value of Market-Based Instruments” along with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The workshop covered issues related to the marine aquarium as well as the food fish industries, and produced a series of recommendations aimed at raising the profile of certification and sustainable fisheries for the countries that share the resources of the East Asian Seas.

 

The summary findings and recommendations were presented to the various Ministers of Oceans, Environment, Fisheries, Marine Affairs and Port Authorities for their consideration in the context of the finalization of an overarching partnership agreement - or ‘regional mechanism’. These included Ministers from Brunei, Cambodia, DPR Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, PR China, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Other delegates included senior officials from the World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Maritime Organization (IMO), Conservation International (CI), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the PEMSEA Youth Forum, as well as representatives from local governments, community-based organizations and private sector companies.

 

There was an appreciation of the constraints and challenges to promoting market-based instruments to “certify sustainability”. Dr Art Hanson, theme keynote speaker and former President of Canada’s International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), remarked that certification of marine resources is still in the infancy stage with the aquarium fish trade being the most advanced industry. The progress made would not have been imagined ten (10) years ago. Congress participants, governments in particular, were urged to consider giving more attention to the aquarium fishery and the various innovative mechanisms, such as microfinance schemes, to promote a more responsible and sustainable trade.

 

MAC in the NEWS

 

“Mass-Producing Nemo: A Peek At U-Md.'s Clownfish Technique”. David A. Fahrenthold. Washington Post (online magazine). October 12, 2006; T03.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101100755.html.

 

“MAC Certified Cultured Marine Ornamentals Now Available”. Paul Holthus and Nathalie Gamain. Fish’N’Chips (online). October 2006. http://www.marinefiends.com/.

 

“Ensuring Marine Ornamental Fish Collectors Have Financial Resources And Business Skills To Participate In A Sustainable Trade“. Gil Dennis A. Raposa, Kunto Binawan and John Claussen. Tropical Fish Hobbyist. December 2006: 76-79.

 

“El Futuro Por…100 Expertos”. Especies 100. 44-64. [in Spanish].

 

“Castelnau Ballesta Invité A La Journée De L’Aquariophilie”. NB. Midi Libre. November 30, 2006: 4. [in French].

 

“Watch Out: Hazardous Fish Often Show Up In Pet Stores Uninvited”. Andy C. Ternay. Pet Product News. December 2006: 73.

 

“Rapidly Growing Variety Of MAC Certified Organisms Available To The Industry And Hobby”. John Brandt. Pets International Magazine. December 2006: 75.

 

“Asheville Aquarium Isn’t Your Average Fish Store: It Caters To People Who Know Fish”. Anne Fitten Glenn. Citizen Times.Com (online magazine). December 11, 2006. http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612110302.

 

“Nachhaltiger Und Verantwortungsvoller Aquarienfischfang- Teil 1: Netzfang”. Ron Lilley. Koralle. December 2006 - January 2007: 11. [in German].

 

“This Fisher Casts a Different ‘Net”. Microsoft Philippines Daily Planner 2007. January 1, 2007.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

February 22-24: Global Pet Expo 2007 (Orlando, FL - USA).

 

March 18-20: Expozoo 2007 (Paris, France).

 

March 30- April 1: Backer’s Pet Industry Spring Trade Show 2007 (Atlantic City, NJ - USA).

 

April 16-21: First Coral Husbandry Symposium (Burger Zoo, Arnhem, the Netherlands).