Fish 'N' Chips
A Monthly Marine Newsletter
September 2005 Issue

Index

From Liz
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 9/22/05

Down for Maintenance: At the end of this month, I will be shutting down marinefiends.com for some serious maintenance. I will be moving from a dynamic ip address to a static one. All that techno-mumbo-jumbo means is that the site will be down for one to three days while I and my host (Softplanet - highly recommended by the way!) do our thing. I am going to take the opportunity to also upgrade to the latest version of my mailing list software. If you see some strange messages, just ignore them, I'll be back up and running as soon as I can during the first week of October.

Tank Showcase: John Krell's 75 Gallon Reef Tank is this month's Showcase and can be seen at http://www.marinefiends.com/showcases.html.

Tank Showcase Updated: Cedric C. Kirkman's 10 Gallon Reef Tank was the showcase in July. I've just finished adding some tank information and a bunch of closeup photos of his corals. It's worth a second look - http://www.marinefiends.com/showcases.html.

Tank Showcase Submissions - New URL! To submit your tank photos and information, visit http://www.marinefiends.com/submittank.html. There's a couple of reasons for the change, the main one is that some moron with nothing better to do with his or her brains decided to hijack my upload script and use it to spam who knows how many hundreds of people. Oh yeah! Moron!!! The other reasons was that some members reported trouble getting submissions to me. I never did hear what error messages were received or details of the problems but in light of the hijacking, it doesn't matter anymore because now we are back to submitting showcases via email.

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Critter Corner
Corals and Polyps
By Hennie Landman
Edited By Elizabeth M. Lukan, 9/16/05

Depending on your outlook, corals in our tanks are "the reason for it all," or "The cherry on top." Whatever your view, keeping corals successfully is a challenge which few serious marine aquarists can resist.

Because most corals have symbiotic Zooxanthellae (algae living inside the corals), and there is so much technical talk on suitable lighting spectrums and intensities, one tends to forget that corals are actually predators (and very successful ones at that). In fact, of all the predators on Earth, corals have the largest part of their bodies devoted to catching food. Of course, most corals also need light of a suitable colour spectrum and intensity, adequate water movement, and very good water quality. Without a suitable "total system" one will never achieve long term success with any of the so called Hard Corals.

Soft Corals, such as the Leather corals (Sinularia, Sarcophyton and Lobophytum sp), Mushrooms (Discosoma sp.) and "Polyps" (Zoanthids) are all rather easy to keep. They require good water movement, but do not require such intense lighting as hard corals. They do thrive under strong lighting, though, if they are slowly acclimated. As you can see from the photos, mine are doing very well under the 2x150W metal halide lighting.

Corals tend to change shape between their "Day-mode" (mainly photosynthesizing), and their "Night-mode" (actively "hunting" to catch prey), as the following photos clearly illustrate:

	Normal Daylight mode.	Night-time hunting mode.
A Favia sp. which I've had for about 18 months. It only extends it's feeding tentacles after dark, and is fed a "liquidized" mixture of seafood.
A Scolymia sp. Artichoke coral, which on occasion extends feeding tentacles during the day when I feed the fish, but always opens up at night.
My favorite green open brain, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi, which remains slightly open during most of the day, but really extends at night.
In contrast to the other corals, my Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) usually expands during the day, and contracts totally at night.

The following are images of some of the other corals in the tank.

My Finger Leather coral, Lobophytum sp.	A close-up of the Leather, showing the individual polyps.	A light brown Favia sp.
A pulsing Xenia	Green colonial anemones, Zoanthus sp.	Brown "Sandy Zoanthid," Palythoa sp.
Daisy Coral, also known as a Flowerpot Coral (Goniopora sp). They do not survive in captivity.	A close-up of the Goniopora, showing individual polyps.	For those who thought that corals cannot catch fish - my Scolymia with an Anthia which it caught.
A large solitary mushroom (Discosoma sp.) in it's normally open daylight mode.	The same Discosoma busy closing around a piece of shrimp (the white spot in the center)	The Discosoma nearly fully closed around the food.

Editor's Comments:
The above article is the property of Hennie Landman and has been republished with his permission. My editing was limited to checking spelling and grammar (if applicable) and putting Hennie's article into the Fish 'N' Chips format.

Please visit Hennie's site for this article, a huge collection of beautiful photos and much more. Hennie's "Indoor Reef" can be found at http://www.reefmaniacs.com/hl/.

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Caught In The Net
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 9/22/05

New Stuff Found

Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/):

• Volume IV, Issue VI, June 2005 - http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/6
• Volume IV, Issue VII, July 2005 - http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/7
• Volume IV, Issue VIII, August 2005 - http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/8
• Volume IV, Issue IX, September 2005 - http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/9

SeaScope Magazine (http://www.marineland.com/news_seascope.asp):

• Volume 22, Issue 1, 2005 - http://www.marineland.com/seascope/SSISSUE1_05.pdf

Book Recommendations: In the January 2005 issue of Fish 'N' Chips, I published an article on Book Recommendations that I had put together from posts by the International Marine Aquarists Mailing List. Shortly after the article was published, I received an email from Tim Hayes who had several posts in the article. Tim said his posts were based on an article he had written that had been published in both Today's Fishkeeper and Practical Fishkeeping. He asked if I'd mention the article and provide a link. Would I? I'd be honored. So, folks, go check out the full article: A Review of Reef Literature - February 05 by Tim Hayes at http://www.midlandreefs.co.uk/farm/index.php?choice=articles. To read my original article, visit http://www.marinefiends.com/issues/2005/fnc0105.html#books.

Marine Aquarium Council Update
Second Quarter 2005

Director's Note

MAC's efforts to instill quality and sustainability as the foundation for the collection, handling and holding of marine ornamentals and the management of collection areas in rural areas of developing countries is based on the work of many dedicated individuals. The MAC trainers, community organizers and other field staff, and those working with exporters, put in an enormous commitment of time and effort to work with collectors and communities to understand and achieve MAC Certification. Many MAC staff members spend weeks and sometimes months away from their families to work in these areas and form a working partnership with the community and the collectors to build their capacity to attain MAC Certification. These efforts are often fraught with unpredictable difficulties of bad weather, local and national politics, logistics problems, etc. that interfere with planned, timely progress. Nonetheless, as reported below, these efforts are achieving results with many new collection areas, collectors groups and exporters achieving MAC Certification in the past month.

MAC tries its best to build the capacity for a collection area, collectors group or exporter to achieve understanding and compliance with the international standards. However, it is important to note that assessment for compliance is undertaken by independent third party MAC Accredited Certifiers and a positive result is not certain - as noted below for some of the recent assessments. When a collection area fails certification the effect can have a major impact on those involved. For example, in the Philippines a collection area recently did not 'pass' their assessment. Members of the community and collectors group were reduced to tears when they learned their hard work over the past year had not been up to the standards. MAC does not and will not give up on these communities if there is continued commitment on the part of the collectors and community to persevere towards achieving MAC Certification. We continue to work even harder to ensure that the community and the collectors have the information, skills and experience to achieve a successful certification result in the future.

Certification Progress

Major New Certifications and Re-Certifications in Philippines and Fiji and First Certifications in Indonesia

During the month of May a MAC Accredited certifier assessment team visited a large number of collection areas and exporters in the Philippines and Indonesia. An additional assessment took place in Fiji in early June 2005. In the three countries, a total of 17 new or previously MAC Certified collection areas and associated collectors groups were assessed and 17 new or previously MAC Certified exporters were assessed. The results of this major effort and many months of extreme hard work by MAC staff and the certifier were:

Philippines

1. MAC Ecosystem and Fishery Management (EFM) Standard and MAC Collection, Fishing and Holding (CFH) Standard
   1. New collection areas and associated collectors groups:
      • 12 new collection areas and associated collectors groups were assessed
      • 11 new collection areas and associated collectors groups were successfully MAC Certified
      • 1 new collection area and associated collectors group was unsuccessful
   2. Existing Certified collection areas and associated collectors groups:
      • 2 previously MAC Certified collection areas and associated collectors groups were assessed
      • 2 previously MAC Certified collection areas and associated collectors groups were successfully re-Certified
2. MAC Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) Standard
   1. New exporters:
      • 7 new exporters were assessed
      • 7 new exporters were successfully MAC Certified
   2. Existing Certified exporters:
      • 3 previously MAC Certified exporters were assessed
      • 2 previously MAC Certified exporters were successfully re-Certified
      • 1 previously MAC Certified exporter was unsuccessful

Indonesia - First ever MAC Certification assessment and successful certifications

1. MAC EFM Standard and MAC CFH Standard
   1. New collection areas and associated collectors groups:
      • 2 new collection areas and associated collectors groups were assessed
      • 1 new collection area and associated collectors group was successfully MAC Certified
      • 1 new collection area and associated collectors group was unsuccessful
2. MAC HHT Standard
   1. New exporters:
      • 6 new exporters were assessed
      • 6 new exporters were successfully MAC Certified

Fiji

1. MAC EFM Standard and MAC CFH Standard
   1. New collection areas and associated collectors groups:
      • 1 new collection area and associated collectors group was assessed
      • 1 new collection area and associated collectors group was successfully MAC Certified
2. MAC HHT Standard
   1. New exporters:
      • 1 new exporter was assessed
      • 1 new exporter was successfully MAC Certified

As always, the only formal listing of MAC Certified areas, collectors and companies is available on the MAC website (http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/). This listing will soon be updated to include all of the above.

As we move forward with the continued and expanded supply-side efforts to develop MAC Certified collection areas, collectors and exporters, the major focus will also be on ensuring that there is a consistent flow of high quality MAC Certified organisms of increasing volume and variety from these areas and new areas that achieve MAC Certification.

Indonesia Update

Government Supports Sustainability and Information for Indonesia's Aquarium Trade

During a MAC presentation to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Affairs in Jakarta last May, the Indonesian Government expressed enthusiasm about MAC's work in Indonesia, including MAC's efforts to help in collating data on organisms collected for marine aquarium trade. Although the aquarium trade has been operating for over 30 years in the country, there are limited records available for the trade.

The Indonesian government is becoming increasingly aware of the need to conserve its marine natural resources to achieve sustainable use over the long term. It has welcomed MAC's efforts in helping to compile data about the species in trade, particularly from the designated collection areas. Regular surveys of collection areas are carried out by Reef Check and other local NGO partners, in areas seeking to be certified with the data being compiled by MAC. This baseline data can then be compared with subsequent data, and used to monitor harvest, develop catch levels, and identify potential species at risk. Although the marine aquarium trade has a relatively minor impact on coral reefs in comparison to other uses, there has been increasing pressure for Indonesia to monitor the species and numbers in trade, in order to provide greater legal protection to species found to be at risk through over-exploitation. At present, this monitoring still mainly focuses on the collection and trade in live and dead corals, as most marine aquarium fish and invertebrates are not protected.

Enlightened and committed industry members have begun to respond to this, and have approached MAC to help them. There has been a dramatic shift towards coral cultivation, and the mariculture of marine organisms will be an important part of achieving greater sustainability for the marine aquarium trade. These efforts by government and the industry can contribute significantly in providing good quality organisms for the market, lowering mortality of species in trade, and enhancing the conservation to the reefs upon which so many people depend for their livelihoods. Given the sensitivity about the collection areas' specific location, the trust of all traders who are willing to share their data is greatly appreciated, and the confidentiality of all data collected is respected.

Philippines Update

MAC Strengthens Focus on Supply Development

The strategic focus of MAC on transforming the marine aquarium trade, especially for supply development in key source countries, is evident in the recent move to strengthen its program and project delivery capability in Asia/Pacific region. In May 2005, MAC moved into new Manila offices that it will share with key partners Reef Check and the Conservation and Community Investment Forum (CCIF). The office is being ramped up to provide managerial, technical and administrative support services for its Philippines-based operations, and for MAC in Indonesia, with a view to extending this support to the MAC efforts in the Asia/Pacific region overall. "We need to extend our reach to the coastal communities and exporters that are fundamental to the trade, and having a more solid presence in these countries is part of sustaining effective programs at this level" stressed Paul Holthus, Executive Director for MAC.

MAC is able to expand its efforts in the Philippines and Indonesia through "Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Initiative" (MAMTI) support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) via the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank. As previously reported, the MAMTI project brings together a complementary partnership between MAC, Reef Check and CCIF and the office is a vibrant and unique mix of skills and talent. Juliet Paulino, the MAC Asia/Pacific Office Manager adds: "We are serious, but we are going to make the work enjoyable" as she develops a user-friendly office environment which will make a remarkable contribution to achieving MAC's global objectives.

Contact information for the new MAC office in Manila is:
Marine Aquarium Council
6th Floor, Salustiana D. Ty Tower
104 Paseo de Roxas
Makati City, Metro Manila
Philippines
Ph: +632 813-1308; + 632 893-7252
Fax: +632 817-9541
E-mail: jpaulino@aquariumcouncil.org

Philippines President Visits MAC Collectors in Palawan

On May 9, 2005, local communities of the Palawan region received the visit of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, accompanied by Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and US Ambassador to the Philippines, Francis Ricciardones. The President and other officials met with marine ornamentals collectors who are working towards becoming MAC Certified.

Since 2004, the Palawan region has hosted MAC training teams, through the USAID support to MAC for "Transforming the Marine Aquarium Trade" (TMAT). Several communities and collectors groups in Palawan Province are working towards achieving compliance with the MAC International Standards for both their collection areas and operations.

Pacific Update

Canadian/South Pacific and EC SMART Projects Draw to an End

Generous support from the Canada-South Pacific Ocean Development Program (C-SPOD), via the South Pacific Forum Secretariat, wrapped up in late 2004, as the project funding period ended. In mid 2005, the Sustainable Management of Aquarium Reef Trade (SMART) project funded by the European Commission will be finishing up as that project cycle closes. These projects sought to ensure the marine aquarium fishery and industry in several Pacific Island countries was environmentally, economically and socially sound and sustainable through MAC Certification. MAC was active in Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and the Cook Islands. Although significant progress has been made in all of these areas, there is still work to be done. Difficult logistics, changes in company management, national political developments, community concerns, and other issues greatly affected the ability to move fully through to MAC Certification for many of the collection areas and companies.

MAC Certification Focus on Christmas Island, Kiribati

MAC activities in the Pacific will continue, but on a much more targeted scale. Through support of the Brussels-based Centre for the Development of Enterprise, the MAC Pacific team will be following up on the interest in MAC Certification from the collectors and exporters in Christmas Island, Kiribati. The team will be based at Christmas Island for much of July and August 2005.

SPREP Support for Resource Assessment and Management

The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) provided support to enable the MAC Pacific team to focus on the information and processes needed to ensure that the live coral and live rock trade could be better understood and managed. The MAC Pacific program linked this to fieldwork and undertook additional activities including: refining the resource assessment methodology for live coral harvesting and live rock extraction, improving methods for the interpretation of resource assessments and developing quota building capacity to undertake resource assessments, and developing impact assessment methods.

Europe Update

European Importers and Retailers Prepare for Certification Assessment

Interest within Europe for MAC Certification is growing rapidly amongst importers and retailers. MAC Consultant, Christiane Schmidt, has been working closely with importers and retailers in France, Germany and the UK over the past months to assist them to prepare for MAC Certification to the MAC HHT Standard. Several importers and retailers in these countries are scheduled to be formally assessed by a MAC Accredited certifier in July 2005.

MAC Seminar and Presentations at the Paris Underwater Life Festival

In April, MAC representatives attended the second edition of the Underwater Life Festival in Paris, France (previously "CIRCOP"). This is one of France's major marine aquarium industry and hobby events, which occurs every two years. The Festival generously provided support for MAC participation and booth space for MAC to display its brochures for hobbyists and the industry, which provided a busy meeting place for MAC interaction with participants, speakers and organizers.

In addition to a plenary presentation on "Healthy Reefs, Healthy Hobby - a Symbiotic Relationship", a forum for hobbyists was held on MAC Certification, with many questions from the reef keepers in attendance. The Festival also hosted a half-day MAC Certification seminar for the industry on the MAC Standards and the steps to follow to become MAC Certified, targeting French aquarium industry professionals. Several companies signed the MAC Statement of Commitment and Support at the event.

European Press Interest in MAC at ZooMark, Italy

MAC Communications Consultant, Nathalie Gamain, attended ZooMark (the second largest pet industry trade show in Europe) in Bologna, Italy to meet with major industry stakeholders. Numerous meetings with European and international press representatives were organized as part of efforts to expand MAC outreach and communications to the industry and hobbyists in Europe.

Update on the MAM Standard

Interest is growing in the MAC Mariculture and Aquaculture Management (MAM) Standard and an increasing number of marine ornamental culturing facilities are contacting MAC to find out about how they can become certified to this standard. Final editing of the MAM Standard has almost been completed and MAC is working with a few culturing facilities that have agreed to participate as test cases for the initial certifications to this standard.

Peter Scott, MAC Certification Systems Director, made a presentation on the MAM Standard at the annual global World Aquaculture 2005 Conference (May 9-13, Bali, Indonesia), as the 'soft launch' of the MAM Standard, where there was interest from a number of companies and organizations.

For more information, please contact Peter Scott (peter.scott@aquariumcouncil.org).

Communication and Outreach

MAC HHT Standard Documents Available in French and German

As a further part of the increased MAC European outreach, the MAC Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) Standard and the Retailer Master Copy (the supporting document for the HHT International Standard) are now available in French and German. Additional operational support documents, such as the Certification Annual and its complementary forms, have also been translated in these two languages, in order to facilitate the efforts of European companies interested in becoming MAC Certified. These documents are available upon request at info@aquariumcouncil.org.

MAC Presentation and Participation at Aquarama, Singapore

MAC Executive Director, Paul Holthus, delivered a presentation on MAC Certification at Aquarama, the major two-yearly aquarium industry gathering in Asia (Singapore, May 27-29). Aquarama Conference attendees were updated on MAC capacity building activities in the Asia/Pacific region and of MAC's work with the industry, hobby and media in North America and Europe and the resulting increase in awareness and participation in MAC Certification. Numerous side meetings were held with companies that are MAC Certified or are seeking to become MAC Certified, as well as with the trade associations and other MAC partners present at this well attended event.

Upcoming MAC Presentations at MACNA 2005 - from Indonesia to the Classroom

The MAC Indonesia Director, Ms Gayatri Lilley-Reksodihardjo, will travel to Washington, DC in September to make a presentation at the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA) on "The Life and Future of Marine Ornamentals Collectors in Indonesia". MACNA participants will also be able to hear MAC Americas Director, Mark Schreffler, talk about the value of marine aquaria in classrooms and teaching in a presentation on "Get Connected - Help Protect our Coral Reefs" in the Education theme session of MAC NA.

Remember to visit the MAC website at http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/ for more information and to subscribe to the newsletter.

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Chips...er...Tips
Feeding Tip #2
By Stan & Debbie Hauter
Edited By Elizabeth M. Lukan, 9/16/05

When using lettuces and other fresh vegetables, slightly freeze and then thaw them out before feeding. This breaks down the hard fibrous structure of the food allowing the fish to more easily digest it.

Do not boil lettuces and other vegetables. This will remove beneficial nutrients from them.

Feeding fresh broccoli and carrots to herbivores can provide valuable Vitamin A, helpful in restoring fish suffering from Head and Lateral Line Erosion.

Soak lettuce and other foods in a vitamin supplement like Selcon before feeding. This will help to give the fish extra vitamins they may be lacking from eating unsupplemented foods.

Editor's Comments:
Editing was limited to spelling and grammar corrections and putting into the Fish 'N' Chips format. The above is part of a larger article, How To Tips For Feeding Saltwater Livestock, which can be found at http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/fishphotosa_b/ht/feedswfish.htm.

To Submit Your Tip: Visit http://www.marinefiends.com/submit.html.

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