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MASNA Closes Down - The End of MACNA
Last updated on October 26th, 2024
MASNA Closes Down
If you follow the reefing hobby closely, you'll like have noticed that MASNA has been struggling for quite a while. With the last 2 MACNA conferences being cancelled, and the 2022 MACNA not hitting the mark, it felt like it was a matter of time. It's a sad thing to see because it seems like were losing organization and trade shows for this hobby left and right.
The Official Communication from MASNA
The official communication came via email on October 25th, 2024.
MASNA closure
It is with heavy hearts that the Board of Directors of the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA) announces the closure of the organization. Despite our best efforts to revitalize MASNA and navigate the challenges of recent years, we have been unable to secure the necessary support to sustain our operations.
MASNA proudly organized the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA), which for over three decades served as a thriving resource for aquarists to connect with peers, learn from experts, and grow their skills. We are forever grateful for the tens of thousands of attendees, hundreds of vendors, a wide range of sponsors, and upwards of 200 presenters over the years. However, like many in-person events, MACNA faced significant challenges during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts have contributed to the difficult decision we now face. As the sun sets on MACNA in its current form, we take pride in the meaningful contributions the conference has made to the marine aquarium community.
Over recent years, the way we communicate and connect has shifted dramatically, reshaping the landscape for the organizations that serve our community. The growing dominance of digital platforms has transformed how knowledge and expertise are shared, but this evolution also highlights the need for a new, modernized MASNA-like community organization—a centralized hub where the marine aquarists can unite, collaborate, and succeed together. While MASNA must close its doors, the challenges we face today present an opportunity where something new can rise—a future organization that will meet the needs of aquarists in this digital age.
We believe that with the right vision, dedication, and community support, something new and even stronger could reestablish in its place—a community-driven platform that not only connects aquarists but also upholds the passion and commitment to responsible practices that MASNA has always represented. The potential for a redefined MASNA remains, and perhaps one day, we will see its revival, adapted to the evolving needs of our community.
For many years, MASNA served as a trusted source of knowledge and expertise, and as we move forward, we encourage all aquarists to remain diligent in their pursuit of excellence by continuing to seek out reliable, validated information. Exceptional, vetted sources of knowledge still exist, including respected print publications, many of which are now available digitally, offering both convenience and a reduced environmental impact.
The MASNA board urges you to continue supporting the remaining community groups and locally-owned brick-and-mortar fish stores. These pillars of our hobby are essential for maintaining the high standards that make aquarium keeping such a meaningful and rewarding experience. Without them, it may become too easy for the quality of the marine aquarium community to wane.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication throughout the years. Though MASNA may be closing, the passion for the marine aquarium hobby lives on through each of you.
With gratitude,
The MASNA Board of Directors
What was MASNA
MASNA (Marine Aquarium Societies of North America) was a non-profit organization that focussed on educating hobbyists in reef tanks. MASNA has been around for 35 years founded in 1989. Offering a scholarship and hosting the MACNA conferences that provided over 215 speakers over 33 years of MACNA events.
Conclusion
With the loss of MASNA and along with it, MACNA, I can't stress enough that we need to support our reef tank organizations. Especially your local clubs! If you want to see more research, new gear, fish, and coral, we need to support the groups and shows that bring them! Don't let this be the first of many!
About the Author
John Krenzer
John is a Software Engineer with a passion for saltwater aquariums, as well as the founder and president of Reef Stable. He started in the aquarium hobby as a child with a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium. His interest in aquarium life grew and in 2008, John set up his first saltwater aquarium.
Today, John maintains an over 300 gallon reef tank system, consisting of a 120g reef and a 210g reef. These large tanks are contained within the same system, sharing a sump as a means to reduce total maintenance and increase total water volume.
John writes articles for the blog as a means to learn about more reef aquarium topics. These articles act as a reference for the readers as well as himself. John updates these articles frequently to provide additional information or make corrections as new information becomes available.
If you would like to request an article, tank tour article, or to collaborate, let me know via the Contact Me Page!
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