MSC Foundation Launches Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay to Protect Marine Life

On April 17, 2025, the MSC Foundation inaugurated its Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas, marking a major stride in marine research and coral restoration efforts.

The facility features a bio-lab, a coral nursery named The Aquaria with 22 coral tanks, and a 50-seat lecture hall dedicated to educational programs and scientific collaboration. Visitors can engage with interactive exhibits and guided tours at the Discovery Pavilion, where they can also partake in hands-on coral restoration activities.

This center acts as the central hub for the MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Programme, launched in 2019, which aims to nurture resilient coral species to restore reefs within the expansive marine reserve surrounding Ocean Cay.

The center is set to offer educational opportunities for Bahamian students, researchers, and conservation experts in partnership with various institutions, including the University of The Bahamas, The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, and the Perry Institute for Marine Science.

The opening ceremony was graced by prominent attendees such as Pierfrancesco Vago, Chair of the MSC Foundation Executive Committee, Diego Aponte, MSC Foundation Board Member, Rick Sasso, MSC Foundation Ambassador, Daniela Picco, MSC Foundation Executive Director, and the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Honourable Philip Davis, along with Deputy Prime Minister Honourable I. Chester Cooper and renowned marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle.

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