MSC Foundation Launches Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay: A Commitment to Ocean Preservation

On April 17, 2025, the MSC Foundation inaugurated its Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas, heralding a new chapter in marine research and coral restoration initiatives.

The newly established facility houses a bio-lab, a land-based coral nursery named The Aquaria with 22 coral tanks, and a 50-seat lecture hall dedicated to educational programs and scientific collaboration. It also includes interactive pavilions and a Discovery Pavilion that features guided tours, interactive exhibits, and coral restoration activities for visitors.

This center serves as the focal point for the MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Programme, which began in 2019 and aims to cultivate resilient coral species essential for restoring reefs within the 64-square-mile marine reserve that encompasses Ocean Cay.

In addition to its ecological objectives, the center seeks to create educational opportunities for Bahamian students, researchers, and conservationists, forging partnerships with organizations such as the University of The Bahamas, The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, and the Perry Institute for Marine Science.

The opening ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Pierfrancesco Vago, Chair of the MSC Foundation Executive Committee; Diego Aponte, MSC Foundation Board Member; Rick Sasso, MSC Foundation Ambassador; Daniela Picco, Executive Director of the MSC Foundation; and officials from the Bahamian government, including Prime Minister Philip Davis and Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper, along with esteemed marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle.

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