Past efforts to address these concerns have had limited results because they focused on only parts of the problem in some countries and did not engage the full range of stakeholders, including aquarists, to address the industry’s entire “chain of custody,” from reef to aquarium.

MAC works with those who know that consumer demand for environmentally sound products can motivate the industry to adopt and adhere to international Standards for sustainability. Similar programs exist to Certify and label environmentally responsible wood production (Forest Stewardship Council) and sustainable food fisheries (Marine Stewardship Council).

The MAC 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 accomplishes this mission through the following activities:

• Establishing independent certification of best practice standards;
• Raising public awareness of the conservation role of the marine aquarium industry and hobbyists;
• Providing objective, accurate data on the marine ornamental trade;
• Promoting the sustainable use of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems though the responsible collection of marine ornamental life;
• Ensuring the health and quality of marine ornamental life through responsible collection, handling and transporting practices; and
• Encouragingresponsible husbandry through education and training.

• American Marinelife Dealers Association
• American Zoos and Aquariums Association
• Indonesia Coral, Shell & Ornamental Fish Association
• IUCN - The World Conservation Union
• Marine Aquarium Societies of North America
• Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association
• Ornamental Fish International
• Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
• Philippine Tropical Fish Exporters Association
• Terangi (Indonesia Coral Reef Foundation)
• The Nature Conservancy
• Traffic International
• "World Wildlife Fund”

Aquarists, industry operators, conservationists and researchers around the world support MAC, with more than two thousand (2,000) individuals and organizations from sixty (60) countries involved in the network and receiving the MAC News.

Involvement of a broad spectrum of interested parties and stakeholders is one of the strengths of MAC. MAC actively seeks the participation of concerned parties ready to contribute constructively to achieving a sustainable marine ornamental trade. Each stakeholder group may have different problems and face different issues. However, all stakeholders in the chain of custody, from reef to aquarium, agree they will not have organisms in the future unless resources are sustainable, responsibly managed and supported by good husbandry and handling practices and they agree MAC Certification is the most important way to move towards this goal.

MAC has created several international partnerships to support certification. Among the key partnerships are the following:

• Conservation and Community Investment Forum (CCIF) collaborates with MAC in Southeast Asia. It designs and finances conservation solutions leading to direct and sustainable conservation outcomes.
  
  
• Reef Check, a member of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, has developed international scientific methods for assessing and monitoring the health of coral reefs and aquarium fish and coral stocks in marine ornamental collection areas.

• Terangi the Indonesia Coral Reef Foundation, is working with collectors and their communities in demonstration sites to prepare them to be certified according to the MAC Standards.
  
  
• The United Nations Environment Program’s World Conservation Monitoring Center (UNEP WCMC) has developed an international database to provide credible information on the marine ornamental trade. Major wholesalers from around the world have provided their data, summarized in the UNEP WCMC report “From Ocean to Aquarium: the Global Trade in Marine Ornamental Species”, 2003. This report is available at the following address:
  http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/resources/publications/UNEP_WCMC_bio_series/index.htm#17
  

7. How can retailers and aquarists support MAC?

Since the launch of the MAC Certification in 2001, MAC Certified marine ornamentals have moved along the entire chain of custody from ‘Reef to Retail’. The more retailers and aquarists ask for MAC Certified marine ornamentals, the more the industry will work to supply them.

In addition, aquarists and retailers can also support MAC through the following activities:

• Ensure that others know that aquarists are concerned about the care of marine organisms from ‘Reef to Retail’ and would like to support sustainable reef fisheries that create incentives for conservation;
  
  
• Ask their supplier where the marine ornamentals came from, how they were caught and handled and if their suppliers can substantiate any claims that the animals are “sustainable,” “cyanide-free” or “net-caught”; and
  
  
• Inform others about how the aquarium trade can promote good husbandry practices and coral reef conservation by supporting MAC Certified marine ornamentals and MAC Certified companies.

8. When will there be tangible, practical achievements from MAC?

Following input from stakeholders worldwide and a public comment period, the MAC international Standards were launched on July 6, 2001. The international Standards are available on the MAC website at www.aquariumcouncil.org. They outline the requirements for third-party certification of quality and sustainability in the marine aquarium industry from ‘Reef to Retail’.

There are four international Standards covering the “Reef to Retail” supply chain.

• Ecosystem and Fishery Management (EFM) international Standard
• Collection, Fishing and Holding (CFH) international Standard
• Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) international Standard
• Mariculture and Aquaculture Management (MAM) international Standard

They are accompanied by Best Practice Guidance documents that provide advice to industry operators on how they might be able to comply with the standards.

9. Will there be a sufficient supply of MAC Certified marine organisms?

In due course, yes. The industry will respond to demand for MAC Certified products, so the more hobbyists and retailers seek out MAC Certified marine ornamentals, the sooner a larger supply will be available. MAC and its partners are actively promoting the scheme amongst industry operators and certification companies to increase their awareness of the MAC accreditation and certification program.

10. Does the role of the MAC cover both wild marine organism collection and captive-bred supplies?

MAC Certification covers all sources of marine ornamentals: both wild marine organism collection and captive bred supplies. Since 2006, the three international Standards covering the entire chain of custody from ‘Reef to Retail’ have been joined by the Mariculture and Aquaculture Management international Standard. This Standard addresses the propagation, collection, and culturing of marine aquarium organisms, and specifies requirements from broodstock/post-larvae receipt through to grow-out for market; packaging and transport of cultured marine ornamentals.

11. How is MAC financed?

MAC is a not-for-profit organization, financed by foundations, charitable trusts, public development assistance funds, etc. with a view to guard its independence from any particular commercial source. Over the next five to six years, MAC will evolve into a self-financed organization, supported industry contributions assessed as part of the fees companies pay to be certified and use the MAC label to verify that their practices and products are environmentally sound. Many companies are already making voluntary contributions to MAC, and we encourage others to join this show of support.

12. Who undertakes the day-to-day workings of MAC?

Team members at the MAC headquarters in Hawaii and around the world comprise the MAC Secretariat, working with stakeholders to achieve the MAC mission on a day-to-day basis. Click here to learn more about our team.