The AMBLARD company is the first French acclimatisation centre and the first and only Marine Aquarium Council certified worldwide trans-shipper. It is also the only European company to have received this double international certification which concerns the quality of marine species destined for the aquatics trade as well as respect for the marine environment.
Who are the Marine Aquarium Council?
Identity: it’s a non-government organisation that regroups the various members of the aquatics trade: fishermen, exporters, importers, trans-shippers, wholesalers, shops, public organisations, scientific organisations...
Purpose: this organisation works for a safe and regulated future for marine life through ethical commerce.
Objective: normalise the aquatics distribution chain
by protecting:
• marine environment and ecosystems,
• animals, fish and tropical marine invertebrates and coral reefs,
by stopping the bad practices of certain people in the chain of distribution of the aquatics trade and their consequences:
• fishing with cyanide,
• over exploitation of collection sites,
• inappropriate maintenance conditions,
• inacceptable packaging and methods of transport,
• non respect of regulation,
• high mortality,
• fragile animals impossible to maintain in aquariums,
• irregular availability,
• badly managed supply delay.
Results: M.A.C. certified animals are:
• in better health,
• imported entirely legally respecting various regulations,
• collected with respect for sustainable exploitation of coral reefs,
• manipulated and transported with respect for best practices,
• maintained in the best conditions in aquariums so as to increase their chances of survival in captivity.
Since November 2001, M.A.C. is aimed at all members of the chain of the aquatics trade who are dependent on each other: collectors, exporters, importers, trans-shippers, wholesalers, shops and soon breeders.
It allows protection of ecosystems and the life and health of the animals while preserving the financial interests of all the members concerned.
How is M.A.C. certification obtained?
M.A.C. certification imposes international standards inspired by ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.
Companies who wish to obtain this certification are examined by independent auditors. They must rigorously put in place a quality procedure that eventually optimises the satisfaction of clients.
M.A.C. certified companies obtain a label of conformity identified by a logo.
This logo is proof that the company respects international norms that protect animals and the environment for the aquatics trade.
A norm to respect
To obtain M.A.C. certification, shops, exporters, importers, wholesalers and trans-shippers concerned, must respond to the demands of the HHT norm "Handling, Husbandry and Transport".
This norm involves manipulation, maintenance and transport of marine organisms in the following domains:
• management of orders and mastery of documentation,
• identification and traceability of marine organisms,
• respect of regulation,
• optimum health of marine organisms and maintenance conditions,
• mastery of recordings and information,
• follow-up of client claims,
• management of transport and acclimatisation conditions,
• management of "M.A.C. Certified Organism" status,
• appointment and training of personnel.
The principal idea of this standard is the optimum health that designates the conditions of good health of the animals according to the M.A.C. norms. The optimum health has as an objective the preservation of the lifespan of marine organisms and to achieve a death rate of less than 1%.
M.A.C. certification is a pledge of quality for marine species offered by the AMBLARD company as well as a guarantee of an approach that respects the environment: two attributes that make the difference and confirm the commitment of the company to responsible aquatics trading.
To find out more on the Marine Aquarium Council: www.aquariumcouncil.org
