MSC Cruises’ Private Island Cultivating Conservation Success with Super Coral Program

MSC Cruises and the MSC Foundation are sharing some good news for the world’s seas coming from the Super Coral Program at the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. 

The Super Coral Program, working with off-site university partners since 2020, is dedicated to reversing the shocking worldwide decline in coral populations. 

New research supported by the MSC Foundation has revealed that 44% of reef-building coral species worldwide are at risk of extinction. 

The research assessed the conservation status of 892 warm-water reef-building coral species. In 2008, when coral populations were last measured for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, one-third were found to be threatened. In less than 20 years, that has risen to nearly half of the world’s coral at risk of disappearing from the seas! 

Researchers cite climate change and related warming events and severe bleaching events as the main threats to reef-building corals, accompanied by other threats like pollution, agricultural runoff, disease and unsustainable fishing. 

In its pursuit of understanding how to save critically endangered coral species, the Super Coral Program at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve has worked to grow resilient Critically Endangered Elkhorn Coral species at its open-water nursery.

‘CORAL-ING’ GOOD NEWS

Recently, the Super Coral Program reported incredible, 100% success in keeping nursery coral specimens alive despite the ongoing worldwide coral bleaching event.  That phenomenal success could be a breakthrough for research and repopulation programs! 

The program builds upon MSC Cruises’ multi-year restoration of Ocean Cay’s marine ecosystem, which began when the company started redeveloping the former industrial sand mining site in 2015. 

A decade later, more changes are on their way to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and for guests of MSC Cruises calling at the private island.

In early 2025, Ocean Cay will soon be home to the MSC Foundation’s Marine Conservation Center which will house a state-of-the-art research facility. The conservation center will help accelerate the Super Coral Program’s restoration efforts and will include new educational facilities that will raise awareness around the critical need to save coral reefs.  

The opening of the Marine Conservation Center will happen in tandem with the launch of MSC Cruises’ newest World Class ship, MSC World America, sailing out of Miami beginning April 2025. MSC World America will sail 7-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, all with stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, allowing guests to learn about the Super Coral Program at the new conservation center.  

More About MSC Cruises 

Headquartered in Switzerland, MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise line with a strong and growing presence in North America. The MSC Cruises fleet consists of 22 modern ships with three new vessels due to be launched in 2025, 2026, and 2027.  

MSC Cruises is firmly committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions for its marine operations by 2050. 

More About the MSC Foundation

The non-profit MSC Foundation implements the MSC Group’s marine conservation, humanitarian, and sustainable development commitments worldwide, using MSC’s global reach and unique knowledge of the sea to protect and nurture our blue planet, its people, and our shared cultural heritage. 

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Images courtesy of MSC. 

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