MAC Certification and Sustainable Collection: Choosing Ethical Livestock

The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) certification program sets standards for the entire supply chain from reef to retail.\n\nMAC-certified practices include:\n- Sustainable collection quotas based on population surveys\n- Net-only collection (no cyanide or dynamite)\n- Proper handling and holding facilities\n- Short supply chain to reduce mortality\n- Fair compensation for local collectors\n\nHow to buy sustainably:\n1. Ask vendors about the origin of their livestock\n2. Choose captive-bred when available\n3. Support aquacultured coral farms (ORA, WWC, Biota)\n4. Avoid species with high mortality in captivity\n5. Don't purchase dyed or injected corals\n6. Research before buying—some species have poor captive survival\n\nRed flags to avoid:\n- Extremely cheap wild-caught corals (may indicate cyanide collection)\n- Vendors who can't provide collection origin\n- Species known to not survive captivity (obligate corallivores, deep-water specialists)