PURPOSE
1) To recognise outstanding achievement in the maintenance and propagation of aquatic plants at an international level.
2) To gather information and accumulate knowledge related to aquatic plants and to encourage their use in the home aquarium.
3) To identify new aquatic plant species and determine the conditions necessary for their maintenance.
4) To establish a permanent, centrally located record of aquatic plant species available within the hobby and to make this, as well as other accumulated information available to member societies.
5) To provide a method which allows the transfer of points from one society’s A.H.A.P. to another in the event of an individual’s change of residence.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1) Plants reproduced must conform with the following CAOAC definition of an aquatic plant "An aquatic plant is one which, in the wild or native state, can be found in the submerged state as a normal occurrence at some time during the course of any calendar year."
2) Plants shall be identified by the participating society. If correct species identification is not possible, the species in question will be assigned a code number by the committee which shall be used for recording purposes until the correct identification is determined.
3) The "Book Encyclopaedia of Water Plants" by Dr. Jiri Strotola, "Aquarium Plants their identification, cultivation and ecology" by Dr. Karel Rataj & Thomas J. Horeman, "The Complete Guide to Water Plants by Muhlberg, "A Manual of Aquarium Plants" by Shirley Aquatics limited, by Colin D. Roe, England, will be the manuals used for source of identification of most species.
4) The local society shall be responsible for the verification of propagations and flowerings and for the submission of reports of these to the CAOAC. A.H.A.P. Chairperson. CAOAC. shall assist whenever possible but shall not dictate policy to the local society.

LOCAL SOCIETY REQUIREMENTS
1) Individual participants must be members in good standing in a CAOAC member society.
2) The A.H.A.P. rules and guidelines of that society must be on file and registered with the CAOAC A.H.A.P. Committee.
3) Participants must have completed all requirements of the local program as registered with the Committee.
4) The species name or assigned code number must be included with each participant’s application for credits. These applications must be signed by the local A.H.A.P. Chairperson or designate.
5) In the case of family participation, one award will be issued by CAOAC with the names of all registered family participants stated on the award.
6) Awards will be issued to a newly registered participant beginning with that individual’s next highest level of accomplishment only. No back-dated awards will be issued.

CAOAC A.H.A.P. COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
1) The CAOAC A.H.A.P. committee chairperson shall maintain an up-to-date file containing:
A) All registered local A.H.A.P. programs rules. Names of all registered societies and
individuals.
B) All applications for credits and awards, and of all awards presented.
C) A list for each level of accomplishment illustrating the number and names of participants and species propagated by each.
D) A record of all communications conducted on behalf of the committee.
2) Establish a code to be used as an interim measure for the classification of unidentified species.
3) Obtain photographs, slides, or living samples of unidentified species and attempt to have them identified and included in the annual report and to submit information obtained from this report.

AWARDS
A certificate suitable for framing shall be provided to participants achieving each level of accomplishment according to these rules and guidelines. All awards shall be signed by the CAOAC President and the A.H.A.P. Chairperson.

OBTAINING AWARDS
Application for these awards shall be on the form provided by CAOAC. See your binder,  section 11 or the FORMS section of this site.

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LEVELS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

CERTIFICATE	# OF POINTS	# OF SPECIES	FROM CLASSES
Aquatic Horticulturist	50	4	B, C,D
Aquatic Advanced Horticulturist	120	12	2 from C, 2 from D, 1 from E
Expert Aquatic Horticulturist	250	30	2 from D, 2 from E, 1 from F
Master Aquatic Horticulturist	500	40	3 from D, 3 from E, 1 from G
Grand Master Horticulturist	1000	80	Minimum 3 lectures or three photo essays of 10 photos each. Pictures to include rootstock, stems, leaves, flower, seeds. An article of plant identification to include at least 2000 words for use by a local or national publication.

PLANT GROUPING AND POINT ALLOCATIONS
The following list will be used as a guide for the Canadian Association of Aquarium Clubs Aquatic Horticultural Awards Program. Additional species will be added as required.

CLASS A (5 Points)
Any members of the following genera: Azolla, Ceratopteris, Lemna, Ceratophyllum, Elodea, Riccia or Salvinia.

CLASS B (10 Points)
Any members of the following genera: Acorus, Fontinalis, Lobelia, Nymphoides, Ambulia, Heterandria, Ludwigia, Potamogeton, Bacopa, Hydrilla, Myriophyllum, Rotala, Cardamine, Hydrocotyle, Najas, Sagittaria, Cobomba, Hygrophila, Nitella, Utricularia, Eleocharis, Limnophila, Nomaphila or Vallisneria. Plus the following species: Pygmy Chain Sword, Samolus, valerandi, Water Wisteria.

CLASS C (15 Points)
Any members of the following genera: Aponogeton, (except Madagascar Lace Plant), Echinodorus, (except Pygmy Chain Sword), Marsilea, Bolbitis, Cryptocoryne Nymphaea, Crinum, Eichhornia, Pistia or Isoetes. Plus the following species: Didiplis diandra, Lagarosiphon major, Microsorum pteropus, Trapa, natans.

CLASS D (20 Points)
Any members of the following genera: Aldrovanda, Alismoides, Anubias, Lagenandra, Ottelia. Plus the following species: Barclaya longifolia, all Madagascar Lace Plants, Spatterdock

CLASS E - FLOWERINGS
Extra points and recognition should be awarded for all reported flowerings of aquatic plants. It is suggested that the additional points be the same for the actual propagation of the plant according to the above list.

CLASS F - SEEDS
Extra points shall be awarded for all seeds. It is suggested that the additional points be the same as for the actual propagation of the plant according to the above list.

CLASS G - SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Extra points shall be awarded for sexual reproduction. It is suggested that the additional points be the same as for the actual propagation of the plant according to the above list.

This CAOAC Aquatic Horticultural Awards Program was put together with the help of the
following people:
Mrs. Dorothy Reimer of London, Ontario;
Mr. James Robinson of Mississauga, Ontario;
Mr. Mike Grader of Allegheny, New York;
Mr. Ray Lucas of Boston, New York.

Clubs that have submitted their local rules and guidelines are:
Kitchener-Waterloo Aquarium Society
Erie Aquarium Society
Durham Region Aquarium Society
Also thanks to Mike Trzonkowski (Delaware Aquatics) for his help.
 

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