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

Index

From Liz
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 4/20/05

Red Words: Remember that any red words appearing in an article are defined in the "What the ... ?" section at the end of each issue. It's been a while since I've defined anything so I figured a reminder was in order.

PDFs: Well, the majority has spoken. Only 32 votes were submitted but 30 of them said yes to PDFs. I guess the other 1000 plus of you didn't care either way. I'll add PDFs to my to do list and let you know when they are on the site.

Tips Needed: For the second issue in a row, I don't have a tip for you. Please send some in, even the simplest of tips can help your fellow hobbyists (not to mention me!). Submit a Tip!

Tank Showcases Needed: I don't have a tank for you this month as I've received no submissions. Two subscribers have emailed me saying they had trouble submitting so maybe there are more of you out there and you just didn't let me know. I ran some tests on my upload section and everything is working fine. I only accept image files so maybe that's the problem. Only upload files with jpg, jpeg, gif, bmp, and tif file extensions please. If there are other image types you want to submit, drop me an email and let me know. To submit your tank photos, visit http://www.marinefiends.com/submittank.html (url dead 03/09/08).

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Critter Corner
Let's talk Blennies
By Elliot Dulberger of pufferlovers.com, 6/24/02
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 4/27/05

Petroscirtes breviceps (Valenciennes 1836), the Shorthead Sabretooth Blenny or Striped Poison-Fang Blenny Mimic

Blunt headed, elongated and constantly active, Blennies make a great addition to your tank although tank mates must be carefully chosen. Provide suitable living conditions in the way of crevices or short pieces of pvc pipes to form living areas for them.

The dorsal fin is long and there are cirri above the high set eyes. Their skin is slimy therefore the alternate name of slimefish is sometimes used.

Males tend to be larger and more colorful then the females. Blennies are completely omnivorous, eating everything from algae to small fish and even pieces of larger ones! They will even eat dry foods with apparent relish.

Some Blennies are very aggressive to other fish.

Some of the more common ones found are:

1. Bicolor Blenny: Up to 4 inches; shy, needs hiding places.
2. False Cleanerfish or Sabretooth Blenny: Beware of this one it looks like the normal cleanerfish but it has a underslung mouth instead of the pointed one the regular cleaner has. This fish should never be bought and I list it as a warning only.
3. Redlip Blenny: 4 inches, great fish, needs hiding places. Territorial and it chases everything.
4. Banded Blenny: 4 inches, needs hiding places.
5. Scooter Blenny or Striped Slimefish: 4 inches, can be kept in groups.

I currently have a Redlipped in my full reef and a Bicolor in my 46 and have had them for both for a long time. I like Blennies, they are active, fun fish to have in the right setting. They are comical and yet active and I love those cirri (eyebrows) they have.

Editor's Comments:
The above article was part of a series of posts called "Let's talk" found on Elliot Dulberger's pufferlovers.com site. Elliot gave me permission to republish the series. Sadly, the pufferlovers.com website is no more.

Photo Credits:
The Shorthead Sabretooth Blenny or Striped Poison-Fang Blenny Mimic (Petroscirtes breviceps) photo is property of Robert Fenner and WetWebMedia (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/).

Unfortunately I was unable to get any other photos. I tried a couple of different places but couldn't obtain permission because the photos belonged to someone else and that site couldn't extend the permission to me. I ran out of time to try elsewhere so I figured I'd link to them instead:

• Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) - http://www.marinedepotlive.com/374034.html (url dead 10/07/05)
• Red-lipped Blenny (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/Blennies/RedlippedBlenny.php (url changed on 03/09/08, originally http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/goby_ble/red_lipped_blenny.php)
• Red Scooter Blenny (Synchiropus stellatus) - http://www.marinedepotlive.com/373934.html (url dead 10/07/05)
• Scooter Blenny or Striped Slimefish (Petroscirtes temmincki) - http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/Mandarins/ScooterBlenny.php (url changed on 03/09/08, originally http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/goby_ble/ScooterBlenny.php)

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Caught In The Net
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 4/27/05

New Stuff Found

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

• Volume IV, Issue IV, April 2005 is now available.

Marine Aquarium Council Update
Fourth Quarter 2004

• Progress in developing the supply of MAC Certified organisms has been slower than anticipated because of the need for hands-on work with communities to develop collection area management and training of collectors in responsible fishing and post-harvest practices.
• MAC will take a more direct role in working with communities through the Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Initiative (MAMTI) project.
  • MAC will work in the Philippines and Indonesia to train collectors in proper collection and post-harvest handling methods.
  • Efforts within supply countries will be matched by work to increase the participation of exporters, importers and retailers in MAC Certification and increase the awareness and demand for MAC Certified ornamentals among consumers.
• A greater volume and variety of MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms are becoming available. The number of MAC Certified collection areas and fishers and MAC Certified exporters, importers and retailers are increasing.
• Indonesia Update:
  • Many collectors currently hold their catch from two to 15 days in plastic bags in their homes or boats. As part of MAC post-harvest training, fishermen's groups are encouraged to keep fish in a simple holding facility that includes a basic filtering system with pump aeration and containers in which to separate fish. Two types of holding facilities are currently being tested - a floating platform at sea and a land-based facility.
  • Members of the Mina Bhakti Soansari fishermen's group in Les village have tried a new land-based holding facility. This has resulted in healthier fish and reduced mortality. Indonesia suppliers are finding that it is easier for them to record the status of their stock as well as trace individual fish back to the collector who caught it.
  • With MAC support, a monitoring, surveillance and law enforcement training workshop was held by the Marine and Fishery office of Buleleng district (DKP Buleleng), Indonesia to build the capacity and understanding of stakeholders who will be involved in managing and protecting the fisheries.
• Philippines Update:
  • 175 collectors in Cagayancillo (Palawan), Camotes Island in Cebu and Marcilla in Northern Palawan completed their training in mid-December and plan to receive MAC Certification in early 2005.
  • 120 collectors in Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao will conclude their training in March.
  • A land-based holding facility was donated by Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr. in Camotes Island in Cebu. The Camotes collectors were finding it difficult to consistently meet the post-harvest criteria due to repeated storm damage to their floating cage holding platform. The facility was built by MAC staff on behalf of the mayor and was turned over to the collectors on December 13, 2004.
  • The facility is housed between protective outcrops of coral rock and consists of a traditional wooden bamboo structure with bamboo staging onto which 30 Styrofoam boxes sit. The Styrofoam boxes are plumped together to make a closed system. The system has a coral rubble filter and large reservoir below the floor of the wooden structure with a small submersible pump creating the necessary flow. The fish and invertebrates are separated by collector. The system is cleaned regularly with 50 percent water changes about every three days. The MAC team in the Philippines will test the efficiency of this type of facility in the hopes that it may be useful in other MAC Certified collection areas.
  • In early December 2004, MAC North America Director Mark Schreffler visited eight exporters in Manila and Cebu as well as three collection areas and collector groups in Camotes and Bohol. Each of the organizations are MAC Certified or are seeking MAC Certification.
  • MAC North America Director Mark Schreffler also visited with Dr. Ed Gomez of the University of the Philippines - Institute of Marine Sciences to discuss the MAC Mariculture and Aquaculture Management Standard, which is in the final developmental stages.
  • MAC Philippines began preparation for work with additional collection areas and collectors in 2005 using the MAC site selection criteria. Field scoping has been completed in Ayungon in Negros Occidental, Polillo in Quezon and Lian in Batangas. Additional potential areas for MAC Certification efforts will be assessed in early 2005.
  • In anticipation of a bigger supply of MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms next year, members of the Philippine Tropical Fish Exporters Association (PTFEA) have once again reiterated their support for MAC Certification. The PTFEA members feel that the time has come to support the certification of additional exporters.
  • Numerous other exporters of marine ornamentals in the Philippines are working towards becoming certified or are in discussions with MAC.
• MAC Resource Management Officer Gregory Bennett and MAC Collector Training Officer Chris Beta conducted resource assessment surveys of the aquarium fish collection sites in Madou and Rarumana, Western Province, Solomon Islands, in November 2004. The data from the surveys will be used in the Collection Area Management Plan (CAMP) for the area.
• MAC North America Director Mark Schreffler and MAC Certified retailer Pat Donston gave a well-received seminar on MAC Certification to industry members attending the 37th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference, October 8-10, in Chicago, USA. Schreffler gave a follow-up seminar at Backer's 17th Annual Pet Industry Spring Trade Show and Educational Conference, April 1-3, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
• A presentation on MAC Certification by MAC Executive Director Paul Holthus and MAC Communications Director Sylvia Spalding was well received by more than 500 individuals attending the International Aquarium Congress (IAC) in Monterey, Calif., in December 2004.
• In preparation for the International Aquarium Congress, MAC produced a CD containing a variety of resource tools that public aquariums can use to help raise public, hobbyist and industry awareness about issues in the marine ornamentals trade and the benefits of buying MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms. Public aquariums interested in obtaining a copy of the CD should email info@aquariumcouncil.org.
• Alexander Gould, the voice of Nemo in Finding Nemo, continued his support for MAC with the completion of a 60-second public service announcement (PSA). Organizations interested in raising public, hobbyist and industry awareness of MAC Certification through use of the PSAs (e.g., retail store or public aquarium loops, presentations at marine aquarium society meetings and/or classrooms, public broadcast, etc.) should email info@aquariumcouncil.org.
• At the 2004 National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) annual conference, MAC Board member John Brandt gave a co-presentation on MAC Certification with Peg Warmack of Portage Central High School, Michigan, USA.
• The Mariculture and Aquaculture Management Standard Advisory Group (MAMSAG) and the MAC Board of Directors recently reviewed the latest draft of the Mariculture and Aquaculture Management (MAM) Standard. The Standard is virtually complete and ready for trials.
• Coralfarm Aquaristic achieved certification as a MAC Certified exporter, importer and retailer in October 2004. This was the first-ever combined MAC and ISO9001 certification audit and first organization to become MAC Certified in Singapore.
• The MAC Board of Directors has established the MAC Standards and Certification Advisory Committee (SCAC). The MAC SCAC is established as an impartial, multi-stakeholder group where no single interest predominates.
  • The MAC SCAC will determine the need for amendments or revisions to existing MAC Standards; develop and review those amendments and then present those amendments to the MAC Board for ratification.
  • The MAC SCAC will also determine the need for and develop guidance material on the MAC Standards to enable the aquarium trade to readily understand and implement MAC Certification.
  • One of the key roles of the MAC SCAC will be to manage the revision of the existing MAC Ecosystem and Fishery Management (EFM); Collection, Fishing and Holding (CFH); and Handling, Husbandry and Transport (HHT) Standards.
• After nearly four years with the Marine Aquarium Council, Sylvia Spalding vacated her position as MAC Communications Director at the end of 2004 to resume her previous position as Media and Education Specialist for the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.

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

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Marine News
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 4/20/05

Aquarium Closes: Sadly, the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit, MI, USA, closed on April 3, 2005. The aquarium was 101 years old and was closed so the city could save money. The press release can be found at http://www.detroitzoo.org/media/release_pages.asp?ID=375 (url dead 10/07/05). The Detroit Zoological Institute can be found at http://www.detroitzoo.org/.

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Upcoming Events
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 4/27/05

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

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What the ... ?
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 4/1/05

Cirri

A tendril or similar part; a slender flexible appendage.

Dorsal

The dorsal fin is the fin directly on top of the body. For example, the fin that sticks out of the water on a shark.

Omnivore

An omnivore is an animal who will eat both meat and vegetables.

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Prove It!, a Bibliography
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 4/1/05

Article: Critter Corner

• Dictionary.com, http://dictionary.reference.com/ (updated 10/07/05)

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