Pet Product News Editorial
- Thread starter dizzy
- Start date
Glenn,
Out of curiosity, why an editorial? Did you feel that your questions were not being adequately answered by MAC; or, did you not like the implications of answers provided by MAC and wanted them made public; or, did you simply want to force MAC into a public discourse?
Lee
Out of curiosity, why an editorial? Did you feel that your questions were not being adequately answered by MAC; or, did you not like the implications of answers provided by MAC and wanted them made public; or, did you simply want to force MAC into a public discourse?
Lee
Awesome Glenn. Once you have lawyers calling you at least twice a year, you'll be at the same **** stirrer level as me.
- Uncle JT
Disclaimer: Unfortunately because of one paranoid and insecure individual who repeatedly takes offense when I mention his or his company name, I must write this damn disclaimer. However, it is not my place to judge him.. only God can judge him so I must forgive him for his ways. So people, when reading my posts they are of my own opinions and thoughts and NEVER are the same viewpoint of my employer or any other organization I may represent. To threaten someone I work for over something I say here is blasphemy.
- Uncle JT
Disclaimer: Unfortunately because of one paranoid and insecure individual who repeatedly takes offense when I mention his or his company name, I must write this damn disclaimer. However, it is not my place to judge him.. only God can judge him so I must forgive him for his ways. So people, when reading my posts they are of my own opinions and thoughts and NEVER are the same viewpoint of my employer or any other organization I may represent. To threaten someone I work for over something I say here is blasphemy.
MAC rebuttal to Pet Product News editorial by Glenn Gulley. Published in the November 2004 issue.
“Viewpoint”
The Marine Aquarium Council and the future of the marine aquarium industry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted in the October 2004 PPN Viewpoint, “Concern has been raised over the impact that the marine ornamentals industry has had on the local environments where saltwater aquarium fish are collected and exported. Issues ranging from destructive collection practices, species sustainability, species suitability, and packaging and transport have all come under discussion in recent years … Reform is absolutely necessary … An organization stepping forward to certify harvested fish from reef to retail was exactly what the industry needed.“
The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) is that organization. Here are the facts about MAC and the transformation of the marine aquarium trade.
MAC and the marine aquarium industry
The marine aquarium industry worked with conservation, public aquarium and hobbyist groups to create MAC.
This international coalition formed MAC to work with the industry to develop standards of best practice and ensure a sustainable supply of quality marine aquarium organisms. Industry members from the American Marinelife Dealers Association (AMDA) and other leading trade associations in the US, Europe, the Philippines and Indonesia have been on the MAC Board since its inception.
The US industry—especially retailers—is spearheading the growing support for MAC.
Industry interest in MAC started strong and has grown steadily. More than 120 companies from 20 countries have signed the “Statement of Commitment” to become MAC Certified as soon as possible - and 54 of these are from the US, mostly independent retailers. The US is also the largest component of the growing number of MAC Certified companies worldwide. Of the seven MAC Certified importers in five countries, three are from the US. All six of the MAC Certified retailers to date are from the US. Other certified suppliers are in the Philippines, Fiji, Canada, the UK, Netherlands and France.
Retailers realize many benefits from MAC Certification.
Besides a sustainable supply of quality marine animals, retailers are realizing many other benefits of MAC Certification that improve their business performance. As PPN’s 2003 Retailer of the Year 2003 Patrick Donston stated in the September 2004 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist, “Since we became a MAC Certified facility, my customers are buying healthier fish and the services we provide are enhanced.”
The “Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Initiative” (MAMTI)
MAC is working to increase the supply of MAC Certified organisms.
MAC’s approach is to build up the demand and the supply of MAC Certified organisms simultaneously. However, progress in developing supply has been slower than anticipated. The lag is due primarily to the need for hands-on work with communities to develop collection area management and the need for training of collectors in responsible fishing and post-harvest practices. When MAC was established, partner organizations were going to undertake most of the village-level work. MAC has learned that it must take a more direct role in working with these rural communities if a sustainable supply of marine ornamentals is to be achieved on a meaningful scale and within an acceptable timeframe. This is happening now through the MAMTI project and other activities.
The MAMTI project works with the entire chain of custody, with a primary focus on collectors and their communities.
MAMTI is a five-year project focused on the Philippines and Indonesia. It provides MAC with the resources needed to train collectors in proper collection and post-harvest handling methods and enable communities to manage their reef resources. The project also aims to increase the participation of exporters, importers and retailers in MAC Certification and raise the awareness of, and demand for, MAC Certified ornamentals among consumers. It does not propose any specific activities with airlines. MAC has no plans, through this project or otherwise, to require certification as a prerequisite for airfreight space.
Through the MAMTI project, MAC will work with as many suppliers and supply areas as possible.
The MAMTI project seeks to have at least 30 percent of the trade in the Philippines and Indonesia participating in MAC Certification. There are related project goals for completing the Collection Area Management Plans needed for certification of a harvest area. However, MAC will work with as many communities as possible that are interested in having their collectors and collection areas comply with the MAC Standards.
MAMTI is about ensuring the long-term sustainable supply of marine aquarium organisms.
The MAMTI project does not seek to limit the number of fish being exported from these countries or create an umbrella organization through which all marine ornamentals from these countries will flow. In fact, the long-term possibility of a reduction in fish supply would come from the opposite of what MAMTI will do. Ignoring the management of reefs and the education of collectors and their communities would result in decreased supply due to destroyed habitat, over fishing or government restrictions.
House Bill HR 4928 ‘The Coral Reef Conservation Protection Act of 2004’
HR 4928 reflects concerns about the marine aquarium trade within the US Congress.
Rep. Ed Case introduced the bill because he is concerned about the impacts and sustainability of the marine aquarium trade. His office drafted the bill without any input from MAC. The fact that MAC is located in the same building as The Nature Conservancy-Hawaii, whose director is Congressman Case’s sister (Suzanne Case), has no connection to the drafting of HR 4928.
The future of the marine aquarium industry is quality, responsibility and sustainability
Those who formed MAC and the early adopters of MAC Certification have indeed “stepped forward” to meet the challenges facing the marine aquarium industry as the concern for the health of coral reefs worldwide grows along with the demand for marine aquarium organisms and other coral reef resources. Other members of the industry are invited to join in this inclusive effort to bring quality, responsibility and sustainability to the marine aquarium trade and ensure a future based on healthy reefs, healthy fish, healthy businesses and a healthy hobby.
For more information on the Marine Aquarium Council, please contact us at: [email protected] and view our website at: http://www.aquariumcouncil.org
Paul Holthus
Executive Director
Marine Aquarium Council
“Viewpoint”
The Marine Aquarium Council and the future of the marine aquarium industry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted in the October 2004 PPN Viewpoint, “Concern has been raised over the impact that the marine ornamentals industry has had on the local environments where saltwater aquarium fish are collected and exported. Issues ranging from destructive collection practices, species sustainability, species suitability, and packaging and transport have all come under discussion in recent years … Reform is absolutely necessary … An organization stepping forward to certify harvested fish from reef to retail was exactly what the industry needed.“
The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) is that organization. Here are the facts about MAC and the transformation of the marine aquarium trade.
MAC and the marine aquarium industry
The marine aquarium industry worked with conservation, public aquarium and hobbyist groups to create MAC.
This international coalition formed MAC to work with the industry to develop standards of best practice and ensure a sustainable supply of quality marine aquarium organisms. Industry members from the American Marinelife Dealers Association (AMDA) and other leading trade associations in the US, Europe, the Philippines and Indonesia have been on the MAC Board since its inception.
The US industry—especially retailers—is spearheading the growing support for MAC.
Industry interest in MAC started strong and has grown steadily. More than 120 companies from 20 countries have signed the “Statement of Commitment” to become MAC Certified as soon as possible - and 54 of these are from the US, mostly independent retailers. The US is also the largest component of the growing number of MAC Certified companies worldwide. Of the seven MAC Certified importers in five countries, three are from the US. All six of the MAC Certified retailers to date are from the US. Other certified suppliers are in the Philippines, Fiji, Canada, the UK, Netherlands and France.
Retailers realize many benefits from MAC Certification.
Besides a sustainable supply of quality marine animals, retailers are realizing many other benefits of MAC Certification that improve their business performance. As PPN’s 2003 Retailer of the Year 2003 Patrick Donston stated in the September 2004 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist, “Since we became a MAC Certified facility, my customers are buying healthier fish and the services we provide are enhanced.”
The “Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Initiative” (MAMTI)
MAC is working to increase the supply of MAC Certified organisms.
MAC’s approach is to build up the demand and the supply of MAC Certified organisms simultaneously. However, progress in developing supply has been slower than anticipated. The lag is due primarily to the need for hands-on work with communities to develop collection area management and the need for training of collectors in responsible fishing and post-harvest practices. When MAC was established, partner organizations were going to undertake most of the village-level work. MAC has learned that it must take a more direct role in working with these rural communities if a sustainable supply of marine ornamentals is to be achieved on a meaningful scale and within an acceptable timeframe. This is happening now through the MAMTI project and other activities.
The MAMTI project works with the entire chain of custody, with a primary focus on collectors and their communities.
MAMTI is a five-year project focused on the Philippines and Indonesia. It provides MAC with the resources needed to train collectors in proper collection and post-harvest handling methods and enable communities to manage their reef resources. The project also aims to increase the participation of exporters, importers and retailers in MAC Certification and raise the awareness of, and demand for, MAC Certified ornamentals among consumers. It does not propose any specific activities with airlines. MAC has no plans, through this project or otherwise, to require certification as a prerequisite for airfreight space.
Through the MAMTI project, MAC will work with as many suppliers and supply areas as possible.
The MAMTI project seeks to have at least 30 percent of the trade in the Philippines and Indonesia participating in MAC Certification. There are related project goals for completing the Collection Area Management Plans needed for certification of a harvest area. However, MAC will work with as many communities as possible that are interested in having their collectors and collection areas comply with the MAC Standards.
MAMTI is about ensuring the long-term sustainable supply of marine aquarium organisms.
The MAMTI project does not seek to limit the number of fish being exported from these countries or create an umbrella organization through which all marine ornamentals from these countries will flow. In fact, the long-term possibility of a reduction in fish supply would come from the opposite of what MAMTI will do. Ignoring the management of reefs and the education of collectors and their communities would result in decreased supply due to destroyed habitat, over fishing or government restrictions.
House Bill HR 4928 ‘The Coral Reef Conservation Protection Act of 2004’
HR 4928 reflects concerns about the marine aquarium trade within the US Congress.
Rep. Ed Case introduced the bill because he is concerned about the impacts and sustainability of the marine aquarium trade. His office drafted the bill without any input from MAC. The fact that MAC is located in the same building as The Nature Conservancy-Hawaii, whose director is Congressman Case’s sister (Suzanne Case), has no connection to the drafting of HR 4928.
The future of the marine aquarium industry is quality, responsibility and sustainability
Those who formed MAC and the early adopters of MAC Certification have indeed “stepped forward” to meet the challenges facing the marine aquarium industry as the concern for the health of coral reefs worldwide grows along with the demand for marine aquarium organisms and other coral reef resources. Other members of the industry are invited to join in this inclusive effort to bring quality, responsibility and sustainability to the marine aquarium trade and ensure a future based on healthy reefs, healthy fish, healthy businesses and a healthy hobby.
For more information on the Marine Aquarium Council, please contact us at: [email protected] and view our website at: http://www.aquariumcouncil.org
Paul Holthus
Executive Director
Marine Aquarium Council
clarionreef
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- San Francisco
This was a classic , auto pilot, memorized and knee jerk Stepford wives response and concocted for beginners who have not been following the story.
All the achievements claimed are office achievements...
Year after year we are treated to explanations as to why the field achievements are not far behind...and why so few fish are flowing to go with all the money spent so far.
Things 'hoped for, planned for, counting on' are not yet achievements no more then battle plans are victories and business plans are relized profits.
The fact that the cyanide cartels of Indonesia and Manila had signed letters of commitment years ago has been trotted out dozens of times...but If they believed in those commitments they would have already stopped supporting the cyanide cause already!
They make a mockery of the signed letter of commitment by daily deeds [ ie. financing and distribution of cyanide tablets to collectors] while MAC boasts to us of their being on board with reform! :lol:
Three words to strike terror in the hearts of organizations claiming to work in the genuine interests of poor fish collectors still using gillnets and cyanide....independant field audit.
Is not a unscripted field audit by fish trade independants not the logical flip side to certification by inexperienced fish and field people?
Steve
PS...No one confident of what he boasts of should fear unannounced field tests in
Cagayancillo, Camotes, Clarin etc...
All the achievements claimed are office achievements...
Year after year we are treated to explanations as to why the field achievements are not far behind...and why so few fish are flowing to go with all the money spent so far.
Things 'hoped for, planned for, counting on' are not yet achievements no more then battle plans are victories and business plans are relized profits.
The fact that the cyanide cartels of Indonesia and Manila had signed letters of commitment years ago has been trotted out dozens of times...but If they believed in those commitments they would have already stopped supporting the cyanide cause already!
They make a mockery of the signed letter of commitment by daily deeds [ ie. financing and distribution of cyanide tablets to collectors] while MAC boasts to us of their being on board with reform! :lol:
Three words to strike terror in the hearts of organizations claiming to work in the genuine interests of poor fish collectors still using gillnets and cyanide....independant field audit.
Is not a unscripted field audit by fish trade independants not the logical flip side to certification by inexperienced fish and field people?
Steve
PS...No one confident of what he boasts of should fear unannounced field tests in
Cagayancillo, Camotes, Clarin etc...
clarionreef
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- San Francisco
John,
That was very original. Borrowing my line...about the Stepford wives response :lol:
Oh well, another year and another few mil.
Anything new out there besides the revelation that Marshall got out and trained somebody to do something? :lol:
You know...have any more cyanide fish dealers been certified lately?
They said they would seek certification as soon as possible when they signed the "letter of committment....yearts ago. Didn't they mean it?
Still, you do have the biggest cyanide fish dealers on board and that in itself is quite an achievement.
Just want is it that entices the dealers who poison reefs so seek absolution John...and yet repels reformers to the cause?
Steve
That was very original. Borrowing my line...about the Stepford wives response :lol:
Oh well, another year and another few mil.
Anything new out there besides the revelation that Marshall got out and trained somebody to do something? :lol:
You know...have any more cyanide fish dealers been certified lately?
They said they would seek certification as soon as possible when they signed the "letter of committment....yearts ago. Didn't they mean it?
Still, you do have the biggest cyanide fish dealers on board and that in itself is quite an achievement.
Just want is it that entices the dealers who poison reefs so seek absolution John...and yet repels reformers to the cause?
Steve
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