Standing Up for a Sustainable Trade in Marine Ornamentals
Due to the incredible amount of attention focused on marine ornamentals in the past few months, MAC has been extremely active as the global multi-stakeholder voice for a sustainable and environmentally sound trade in marine ornamentals. Often, in fact, we are the only voice ready and able to stand up and provide this positive message at events critical to the future of the industry and hobby. The spotlight on marine ornamentals is only going to continue to intensify - with US government hearings on the trade likely in December. Ensuring that you are an active part of developing and supporting certified sustainability through MAC has never been more important.

US Gov't Hearing on the Trade in Coral Reef Species Possible
The US Government may propose to hold a hearing on the trade in coral reefs species possibly as early as 6 December 1999. If this becomes official, the meeting notice will appear in the Federal Register. As understood by MAC, the purpose of the possible Washington DC meeting would be to obtain written and oral comment from the public on:

• What are the problems associated with the trade in coral reefs species?
• What are the scope of the problems?
• Is legislation needed to address the problem and, if so, what kind of legislation?

MAC and the United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF)
MAC worked with the US State Dept to organize the participation of numerous stakeholders in the "discussion meeting" on the trade in reef species convened by the State Dept in October in Washington DC. Despite the constraints of limited meeting room and conference phone line space, the presentations and discussion highlighted many of the issues, needs and opportunities for ensuring that the trade is sustainable. The State Dept is preparing a meeting report and we will notify the MAC Network when this is available.

MAC was also invited to attend the USCRTF meeting in Nov, at which I highlighted:

• MAC's multi-stakeholder commitment to our conservation mission,
• the opportunity for certification to achieve self-financing reef conservation, and
• the common goal shared by certification and the Task Force, i.e. a sustainable, environmentally sound trade in coral reef ornamentals.

International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
ICRI is now interested in the trade in coral reef species and, for their Oct meeting, MAC was invited to increase the awareness of the international community of the marine ornamentals industry, the benefits of a sustainable trade and the role of certification.

ICRI is an important network of countries with coral reefs - along with several donor countries, international agencies and conservation organization. ICRI's objective is the sustainable use and conservation of coral reefs and the network is linked by a small global Secretariat supported by one government - currently France. The Secretariat is advised by the Coordination and Planning Committee (CPC), representing the governments and organizations most active in ICRI, and meets once or twice/year. The MAC Director has been involved in ICRI since its start in 1995 through my work with international conservation organizations.

At the Oct ICRI CPC meeting, the US Government announced USAID support for MAC's work in SE Asia and submitted a resolution calling for ICRI partners to reduce the impacts of the coral reef species trade. The resolution proposes a fact-finding mission and workshop in the Indo-Pacific region on the trade's extent and impact and also notes:

• the US intention to consult exporting and importing nations on the trade's impacts;
• MAC's multi-stakeholder mission to develop certification for conservation and sustainability and our invitation to ICRI partners to participate in MAC efforts; and
• the need to improve and better coordinate trade data collection and enforcement.

MAC Consultations with European Stakeholders
In October, the European Union of Aquarium Curators invited MAC to their annual meeting to learn more about certification and the public aquarium role. Many European aquariums are already involved in the MAC network and strong supporters of certification. While in Europe, I also held briefings on MAC and certification with several government and EU agencies, including the EU CITES Scientific Review Group Secretariat, and with several of the largest importers in Europe. All of the above were very interested in, and supportive of, MAC's innovative "win-win" efforts.

I was also invited by the International Business Forum meeting on Sustainable Production and Consumption to make a presentation on "Sustainable Development of Oceans and Coasts: The Role of the Private Sector". (Published in: UN Natural Resources Forum Journal Vol 23 (2):169-176, May 1999. Copies are available from MAC.)

For More Information Contact:
Paul Holthus, Executive Director
Marine Aquarium Council
3035 Hibiscus Dr.
Honolulu, Hawaii USA 96815
Phone: (808) 923-3254 Fax: (808) 923-6023
Email: paul.holthus@aquariumcouncil.org

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