MAC News 3rd Quarter 2005

[Gatortailale]

International Certification for the Quality and Sustainability

 

of Marine Aquarium Organisms . from Reef to Retail

 

 

 

MAC News 3rd Quarter 2005

 

 

 

Director's Note

 

 

 

The Challenge of Supply Volume, Variety and Quality

 

 

 

Developing a consistent volume, variety and quality of MAC Certified organisms from rural communities in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia continues to be the most difficult challenge for MAC. While there is an increasing demand for MAC Certified organisms from a growing number of Certified exporters, importers, retailers and hobbyists - there is still a very limited and inconsistent supply of MAC Certified marine organisms. MAC Certified collectors are presently harvesting marine ornamentals. Unfortunately, a range of factors is keeping this Certified supply from becoming a steady flow of quality organisms reaching the market.

 

 

 

MAC is working to meet this challenge in several ways. We now have a staff member focused on coordinating the flow of certified organisms to meet demand. Mark Schreffler has shifted from his role as the MAC Americas Director, to take on this complex task as Certified Supply-Demand Director. He is based in the Philippines, working there as well as in Indonesia. Mark will work with the entire chain of custody in the supply/demand equation, as well as to ensure that information is being effectively communicated among Certified parties.

 

 

 

Maintaining the quality of harvested animals is another key aspect that is being given greater emphasis. To address this, MAC Philippines and MAC Indonesia will both have Extension and Quality Managers (EQM). The EQM in each country will work with the collectors and exporters to ensure that those handling the animals understand and employ best practices in holding, handling, packing and transport to ensure that the organisms remain in optimal health. Christiane Schmidt already staffs the MAC Philippines EQM position. With a background and training in Aquatic Tropical Ecology, she has worked with importers and retailers in Europe to become MAC Certified. In addition to exposure to the demand side of the industry, her main areas of expertise include quality assurance, performance of quality audits, documentation and procedures for Certification processes.

 

 

 

MAC is also expanding efforts with regard to site scoping, selection, training and extension, improving the process for selecting sites that will be economically viable. MAC continues to work in close collaboration with collectors and throughout the rest of the MAC Certified chain of custody to further the improvement in the health and quality of the MAC Certified organisms.

 

 

 

EUROPE UPDATE

 

 

 

Major Progress with Industry Operators Becoming MAC Certified

 

 

 

All six (6) importers and retailers in Germany, France and the UK that sought MAC Certification in the first part of 2005 successfully became MAC Certified in mid year. This includes the first ever German importer and the first French retailers to become MAC Certified.

 

 

 

The six (6) importers and retailers were independently assessed for their ability to ensure compliance with the MAC Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) international Standard after several months of working with the MAC Consultant Christiane Schmidt. These companies had extensive experience and knowledge in handling and husbandry of marine organisms already in place. They were able to achieve certification by organizing their facility operations and documentation systems ensuring issues such as traceability and mortality measurement of Certified organisms.

 

 

 

The companies listed below are now included in the only official list of MAC Certified industry operators, which is available and updated regularly on MAC website: www.aquariumcouncil.org.

 

 

 

Germany: MAC Certification of the first ever German industry operator, importer: Menzel (Nuremberg).

 

United Kingdom: MAC Certification of the importer, Tidal Life (Stamford).

 

France: First ever MAC Certification of retailers in France: Abris sous Roche (Paris) and All Marine (Paris). MAC Certification of the importers All Marine (Paris) and Aquamarina (Montpellier).

 

 

 

This is an important step for MAC in Europe and particularly in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, which represent the three most important importers of marine ornamentals in Europe. The recent European operators' Certifications mark the trend of the European marine ornamental industry and hobbyists demanding a more responsible and sustainable industry.

 

 

 

PHILIPPINES UPDATE

 

 

 

MAC Graduation Ceremony of Eighty-one (81) Collectors in Three (3) Certified Sites

 

 

 

At graduation ceremonies conducted on August 26-27 in Bohol and Cebu, Philippines, over eighty (80) aquarium fish collectors received their official MAC Certification cards, following their successful completion of MAC training programs. In collaboration with local governments and other stakeholders, MAC worked with the resident collectors in three (3) sites to become "re-certified":

 

 

 

Batasan Island (Municipality of Tubigon: thirty-four (34) collectors).

 

Camotes Island in the Province of Cebu (Municipality of San Francisco: twenty (20) collectors).

 

Tangaran (a coastal village in Municipality of Clarin, twenty-seven (27) collectors).

 

 

 

The work involved updating the Collection Area Management Plan (CAMP) and continued training of fishers in the use of nets. Part of the CAMP includes the establishment or maintenance of existing marine protected areas (MPA), which are "no take zones". Cyanide and dynamite fishing around these collection sites have been significantly reduced since the areas and collectors have become MAC Certified.

 

 

 

Field Orientation Workshop

 

 

 

In preparation for their work on the new group of potential collection sites, MAC and its partners in the Philippines - Reef Check (RC) and the Conservation and Community Investment Forum (CCIF), together held a four-day field orientation workshop in Cebu City, Philippines (August 24-26). The workshop involved new and old staff members that are now working together in the Philippines. Thirty five (35) participants (13 MAC staff, 11 fish collection trainers, 9 RC staff and 2 CCIF staff) took part in understanding the major processes and systems that MAC, RC and CCIF are working on to transform the marine aquarium trade in the Philippines. The workshop included sessions on capacity building, site selection, how to get community involvement, resource assessment, setting up of collection area management plans and building the business model in local communities. The workshop also covered quality maintenance, monitoring and evaluation.

 

 

 

Work in Potential New Philippines Collection Sites Begins

 

 

 

MAC, RC and CCIF met with the municipal governments, resident collectors and aquarium fish buyers of Inabanga, Bohol Province (September 6-8), Burdeos and Patnanungan in Quezon Province (September 12-14). This is part of the 'site selection process' to identify those areas where work on transforming the marine aquarium trade will take place through building the capacity of the community and local government units. The goals are to sustainably manage the aquarium fishery in their respective areas, train active resident collectors to use only nets and to train existing traders in improving their quality control and business skills.

 

 

 

The team will work with the communities and collectors to develop a memorandum of agreement (MOA) supporting the capacity building activities for transforming the marine aquarium trade in these areas.

 

 

 

INDONESIA UPDATE

 

 

 

New Sites in Padang, West Sumatra and the Mentawai Islands

 

 

 

A successful visit to Padang in west Sumatra has resulted in proposals for MAC, RC and CCIF to work there and in the Mentawai islands where many of the Padang-based collectors collect their fish. Typically, roving collectors make a ten-day round trip to the Mentawai islands before bringing their catch back to Padang. Fish have been collected in the Padang area since 1990. Collectors from Pulau Seribu (Jakarta Bay) moved to this location and there originally introduced the collection of marine organisms for the aquarium trade. Two of the traders are sending their fish to a Jakarta-based MAC Certified exporter. This link helps toward establishing a MAC Certified supply chain for this region.

 

 

 

The field visit identified ninety-six (96) species of fish from three sites, including a number of particularly valuable species. Coral reefs in the Padang area were badly damaged by coral bleaching in 1998, but now the estimated coral cover has recovered to 10-20 %. MAC Certification supports the conservation of the reefs through the management planning and by establishing "no-take" marine protected areas.

 

 

 

Certification Assessment Visit for Tejakula District, North Bali

 

 

 

In the Tejakula District, the collectors and suppliers have been working hard to upgrade their operations and documentation to ensure that they have good prospects for achieving MAC Certification when assessed in September 2005. The formal results of the assessment are not yet available. When the area does qualify as MAC Certified, they will be able to supply their catch to the growing number of MAC Certified exporters in Indonesia. This will provide further incentive for them to continue producing quality, sustainable marine ornamentals.

 

 

 

PACIFIC UPDATE

 

 

 

Ornamental Fish Certification in Christmas Islands, Kiribati

 

 

 

During July and August, the MAC Pacific team of Cherie Morris, Greg Bennett and Chris Beta focused their efforts on the major supply region of Christmas Islands, Kiribati.

 

 

 

Part of the work involved resource assessment as the basis for developing a Collection Area Management Plan (CAMP). A baseline survey using MAQTRAC was adapted to the Christmas Islands situation by developing an indicator fish species list and using timed swims. Fifty (50) fish species were chosen as indicators. The survey team of two (2) MAC staff and two (2) fisheries officers conducted fourteen (14) transects over five (5) days, within safe scientific survey depths. Results showed high coral cover and a high diversity of fish species. The team found a particularly high abundance of Golden Gregory Damsel (Stegastes aureus), Bartlett's Anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum), Lemonpeel Angel (Centropyge flavissima), Flame Angel (Centropyge loriculus), Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris) and Niger Trigger (Odonus niger) species.

 

 

 

The MAC team held meetings with all seven (7) of the exporting companies and with officials from the Department of Fisheries, Environment, Tourism, Wildlife and Conservation, and the Ministry of the Line and Phoenix Islands. All stakeholders were in favor of a management plan for the aquarium trade as sustainability was a concern. In addition, the Kiribati National Environment legislation is currently under review in order to comply with requirements of the Convention of Biodiversity (CBD) and the need to ensure that fisheries are sustainable and responsible.

 

 

 

The MAC team also met with forty (40) Christmas Islands fish collectors to explain best collection and handling practices using the booklet developed by the Pacific team in Kiribati language. Collectors appreciated information in their own language and were generally interested in how they could improve collection and handling of fish. MAC met with the seven (7) companies to explain MAC Certification, provide feedback on collection and handling situations they had observed and suggested improvements to these. The team identified major needs for training/coaching of collectors and operators to address quality maintenance and control. Awareness was raised about the health consequence issues of deep diving. Buyers were informed about other valuable shallow water species that are available from Christmas Islands.

 

 

 

Recommendations were also developed on improving basic post-harvest handling, husbandry and transport techniques, and improvements in the design of operator's facilities and the cold storage facility at the airport.

 

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH

 

 

MAC European Hobbyist Kit Available in French, English and (soon) in German

 

 

 

As part of the increased MAC European industry and hobbyist outreach, a European version of the MAC Hobbyist Kit is now available in English and French. A German version will be available soon. The original US version has also been updated.

 

 

 

This Hobbyist Kit is dedicated to marine aquarium hobbyists and clubs to raise awareness about the issues affecting the future of the marine aquarium hobby, as well as introducing MAC and creating an understanding of MAC Certification.

 

 

 

Hobbyists clubs are using the kit to focus one of their meetings on MAC Certification and the role of hobbyists in ensuring the marine ornamental trade is responsible and sustainable. This kit includes a "PowerPoint" presentation about MAC and its programs, an accompanying narrative document, a MAC background file, a marine ornamental trade fact sheet, a FAQ on the MAC International Standards and a survey to be completed after the meeting.

 

 

 

Hobbyists clubs in France have recently contacted MAC to obtain the kit, and already three hobbyists clubs ("Cercle Aquariophile Blagnacais" in Blagnac, "Hobbyist Club of Aquitaine" in Cestas, and the "Aqua-Club of Kingersheim") will be using the kit at one of their next meetings dedicated to MAC.

 

 

 

The MAC Hobbyist Kit is available upon request at info@aquariumcouncil.org.

 

 

 

MAC Becomes Partner of the International Aquarium Forum (IAF)

 

 

 

The International Aquarium Forum (IAF) was launched at the December 2004, International Aquarium Congress, held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with the purpose of improving worldwide communication among public aquarium professionals in order to strengthen capacity building, promote sustainable practices and conserve global aquatic ecosystems. The IAF goals include raising public awareness about the need for conservation, as well as encouraging and sustaining the participation in global initiatives for species and habitat conservation. MAC has become a partner of the IAF so that both organizations can assist each other with their compatible goals.

 

 

 

MAC Presentations at MACNA 2005 - from Indonesia to the Classroom

 

 

 

In September, three (3) presentations that were given by MAC representatives attracted attention at the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA) in Washington, DC. MAC Indonesia Director Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley covered conservation issues with "The Life and Future of Marine Ornamentals Collectors in Indonesia". This presentation emphasized on the transformation of the collection methods used by collectors in Indonesia, in order to enhance a better management of the reef and their resources. Mark Schreffler, MAC Certified Supply-Demand Director, spoke about the value of marine aquaria in classrooms and teaching in "Get Connected - Help Protect our Coral Reefs". John Brandt, from the MAC Board of Directors, gave a presentation about the "Issues of Sustainability, Reform and Regulation of the Marine Aquarium Hobby".

 

 

 

This event provided MAC the opportunity to meet with hobbyists and industry members and respond to questions about MAC Certification and MAC's activities.

 

 

 

 

 

MAC IN THE NEWS

 

 

 

The Sulu-Sulawesi Sea: Environmental and Socioeconomic Status, Future Prognosis and Ameliorative Policy Options. DeVantier, L., A. Alcala and C Wilkinson. Ambio Vol. 33 No1-2, Feb 2004.

 

 

 

"Indonesian Collectors Actively Manage and Protect Their Reefs". PEMSEA E-Updates. Volume 6. Issue No 6. July 1, 2005.

 

 

 

"Project Aims to Let Wild Fish Roam Free". Kevin Wack. Portland Maine Herald. July 24, 2005.

 

 

 

"Pour une Aquariophilie Clean". Pierre Camus. Oceans. N