MAC Certification

[Unarce]

I just recently learned about an organization called the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC).

http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/

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.

Would you like to see our LFS carry these MAC-certified organisms? I like to think that I'm well practiced when it comes to careful selection, but we've all fallen victim to cyanide caught or improperly collected fish.

I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for MAC-certification. I also don't think retailers wouldn't mind dealing with these DOA/DAA rates, which are rather remarkable:

http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/pdf/MACCertificationCostsandBenefitsCaseStudyofUSRetailers.PDF

Is MAC for real, or are they simply a brand. I've also heard that they might become a supplier for large chain pet stores. Isn't 'Care of ornamental marine life' and 'big chain retailers' an oxymoron. Thoughts?

 

[Pico1]

John had some MAC certified bicolor angels about a month ago. I'm sure he can get other MAC certified fish as well.

 

[MandM]

I agree. I would pay extra for certification.

 

[goslugsgo]

Some believe MAC is a sham with serious holes in their certification infrastructure.

Any thoughts, Gresham?

 

[funman1]

I have heard that MAC is a step in the right direction but have also heard MAC cert is VERY easy to get, and regulations once you have it are very loose and unmonitored.

But yes I belive it's a step in the right direction.

WMC had someone talk about this.

 

[Underwaterparadise]

I have heard both good and bad

 

[sfsuphysics]

Karl, ask about MAC over in the Industry forum at RDO, quite a few over there will give you quite an eyefull as far as what they think/know about MAC.

 

[RasBobre]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7939481#post7939481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by funman1
WMC had someone talk about this.

If you are speaking of Steve Robinson, (I did miss a portion of his WMC presentaion) I'll speak for him, and my opinion too BOLOGNA!

MAC has closed some pages on their website after a recent go around on the RDO Industry Behind the Hobby forum and I'd love to provide some links to the facts.

Here is a link to the RDO thread.

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=89978&highlight=

MAC's website used to list 4 retailers in all of the US that were selling certified fish, none west of the Mississippi.

It's all a sham and a sad waste of useful grant money.

MAC in the Phillipines, now that's a saving grace!

 

[fishsoldseprtly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7941095#post7941095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RasBobre
If you are speaking of Steve Robinson, (I did miss a portion of his WMC presentaion) I'll speak for him, and my opinion too BOLOGNA!

MAC has closed some pages on their website after a recent go around on the RDO Industry Behind the Hobby forum and I'd love to provide some links to the facts.

Here is a link to the RDO thread.

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=89978&highlight=

MAC's website used to list 4 retailers in all of the US that were selling certified fish, none west of the Mississippi.

It's all a sham and a sad waste of useful grant money.

MAC in the Phillipines, now that's a saving grace!

yea totally agree, MAC has been ongoing for years now.. and there was a huge debate about it a few years ago.

 

[boviac]

Nonetheless, if there was some way a fish could be 'certified' to NOT have been caught with cyanide AND it was believable/trustworthly, then yes I would pay more. Simply just consider how many fish we've had that have lasted less than a week and a few some cases up to a month. Either way once they were gone (due to poisoning- whatever) it was lost money. - and to further add injury lost to further encourage cyanide fish trapping. UGH...

... ok of my soapbox now...

And by the way, I'm not saying every fish I've lost was due to poisoning... in reality it was probably only a few - then again, I don't have many fish.

Oh to dream....

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7938394#post7938394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pico1
John had some MAC certified bicolor angels about a month ago. I'm sure he can get other MAC certified fish as well.

John DID not have some. IN order to be certified, John would have to be certified. Their certification ended at SDC

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7939070#post7939070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goslugsgo
Some believe MAC is a sham with serious holes in their certification infrastructure.

Any thoughts, Gresham?

One just needs tp look at the certifiaction list of PI exporters to find the wrost offenders in the industry :lol:

I've posted my few thousands of times over this shame. I don't have teh time now, but simply cruz over to Reefs.org and check the Industry behind the hobby, or PM Cortez Marine on either of these sites

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7943517#post7943517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boviac
Nonetheless, if there was some way a fish could be 'certified' to NOT have been caught with cyanide AND it was believable/trustworthly, then yes I would pay more. Simply just consider how many fish we've had that have lasted less than a week and a few some cases up to a month. Either way once they were gone (due to poisoning- whatever) it was lost money. - and to further add injury lost to further encourage cyanide fish trapping. UGH...

... ok of my soapbox now...

And by the way, I'm not saying every fish I've lost was due to poisoning... in reality it was probably only a few - then again, I don't have many fish.

Oh to dream....

How do you know the certification holds water though? Some of teh areas MAC first certified, were known by many scientists (and documented) as unsustainable. With no CDT (cynide detection test) in place, how can MAC claim to be CN free? With out proper netting, how can they claim proper training? I could go on and on, but like I said in my last post, I can't right now :lol:

 

[GreshamH]

Re: MAC Certification

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7938339#post7938339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Unarce
I just recently learned about an organization called the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC).

http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/



Would you like to see our LFS carry these MAC-certified organisms? I like to think that I'm well practiced when it comes to careful selection, but we've all fallen victim to cyanide caught or improperly collected fish.

I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for MAC-certification. I also don't think retailers wouldn't mind dealing with these DOA/DAA rates, which are rather remarkable:

http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/pdf/MACCertificationCostsandBenefitsCaseStudyofUSRetailers.PDF

Is MAC for real, or are they simply a brand. I've also heard that they might become a supplier for large chain pet stores. Isn't 'Care of ornamental marine life' and 'big chain retailers' an oxymoron. Thoughts?

One just needs to know the history to see right thru this shame. Seek out the Grandfather of this group, and it'll lead you right to the corperate HQ of that very chain

 

[Unarce]

I read about Mr. Horn yesterday, and a few of the threads on RDO. Guess MAC wasn't all it claimed to be

 

[GreshamH]

Isn't and wasn't

 

[Thales]

Its a shame. This hobby is so filled with unsupported claims, and its sad that the MAC seems to be one of them.

 

[kward@msn.com]

Since opening the Coral Reef shop in June we have bought from no fewer than 8 wholesalers. Aside from a few "glitches" in our filtration system, I can honestly report that by far the fewest DOA's and in store deaths have been associated with the one and only wholesaler that clearly identifies the orgin of the animal, ie., Indonesia, Hawaii, Red Sea etc., and identifies it as MAC certified or not. My experience so far tells me not to buy Philippines exported fish. Some wholesalers also report that Bali is now par with the Philippines on poor export quality. I have been very satisfied with the mortality, color and health of livestock from this supplier and will continue to bring these animals to our store despite the higher costs. The additional costs are attributed to special collection and handling proceedures (MAC) and local responsible government regulations on the collection of exported tropical Fish and Corals.

Ken
CRS

 

[Thales]

Which supplier?