Simple Questions for MAC

[Anonymous]

Nope. Mine were in unmarked bags, with the only indication that they were MAC certified being on the invoice.

The other odd thing that I thought was that I didn't recieve (and haven't still) any information about becoming a MAC certified store. I mean, I ordered a MAC certified fish, shouldn't that set of some flags and whistles in their great paperwork trail that a new store is interested in MAC?

 

[Anonymous]

They'll probably say that the marked bags only go to MAC-certified stores, and then we're back to square one again.

Peace,

Chip

 

[JennM]

That's why I asked Kyle too. I realize he's not a retailer, but if he's selling certified organisms perhaps he can clarify how that works. He must received numbered batches - perhaps he can share how it works... if the batches have to be numbered when they leave his facility, going to certified retailers, and non-certified retailers.

Jenn

 

[kylen]

Jenn,

Yes I do receive MAC certified fish with batch codes on them (all 8 fish for today's shipment :wink. I have to keep track of these while in my facility for my own records. I do indicate which items are MAC certified on my stock report with a disclaimer on the bottom indicating that only MAC certified retail facilities can sell them as such. I do not indicate on the bags or invoices that the fish are certified, but track the outgoing certified fish on the invoice copy for my files. This way I try to avoid any confusion. For the record, there are no certified retailers in Canada to date.

I hope this helps.

 

[JennM]

Yes Kyle it helps, and thanks for sharing. Do you have to report any statistics back to MAC?

I guess for now you're the end-point of the certification trail, eh? If someone in your market area (retailer) becomes MAC certified, what's the protocol for shipping certified fish? I presume that the batch number must follow the fish - and who compiles the data on the start-to-finish history of each batch?

Thanks !

Jenn

 

[kylen]

Jenn,

I have not formally reported any stats back but have passed on my information anecdotally. Not the most scientific process to date but some are aware of what I'm doing.

We are the end point for MAC fish coming into our facility. If and when a customer of mine becomes certified, I believe (someone from MAC can correct me if I'm wrong) but basically I have to easily identify the certified fish with batch codes and mark the same on the invoice. As far as compiling a full fledged trace...I dunno. Again, hope this helps.

 

[JennM]

Thanks, Kyle. I appreciate your taking the time to answer.

Help me understand, please - if the data on mortality etc., of MAC certified fish does not need to be reported, how will MAC see any patterns of problems? I would think that the reason for all that paper trail would be to ensure that certified fish held to a certain (implied "higher") standard than non-certifed, or else what would be the incentive? I would think that if batches are tracked, from the point of collection, to the point of sale to the consumer, and a given collector or collection area encountered more mortality along the chain of custody, than the "norm", wouldn't it raise some flags? Could be collection, could be handling, etc... but isn't that the point? Or is it strictly about each batch as it travels, and each link in the chain is on his/her honour to de-certify and re-certify for mortality?

If everybody is recording this and that, but the data isn't being compiled someplace for use to at least verify or improve the process, then why is it all being done?

Or is that a "next phase" that is not implemented yet? Do you have a format prescribed by MAC for recording the data?

Jenn

 

[John_Brandt]

I think that Kyle is supposed to be keeping detailed records of mortality. These are at some point to be submitted to, compiled and analyzed by the Global Marine Aquarium Database-GMAD.

Look here: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/marine/GMAD/description.html

 

[dizzy]

John,
Are Kyle and other members of the MAC PACK supposed to be keeping detailed records of all their mortalities? Or just the MAC fish?

 

[John_Brandt]

Mitch,

The MAC Pack only needs to keep records of MAC Certified animals.