MSC Foundation Plants Endangered Corals in the Bahamas
The MSC Foundation — the philanthropic arm of MSC Group which MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys is a part of — announced today that it has completed a further phase of coral restoration in the Bahamas. The foundation outplanted 32 nursery-grown fragments of critically endangered elkhorn coral on a reef near Browns Cay, a small island located near MSC’s private island Ocean Cay. This brings the total number of corals planted to 285 through the foundation’s Super Coral Reefs Program.
With marine scientists forecasting high ocean temperatures later this summer, the foundation has also taken the precautionary decision to retain additional coral fragments in underwater nurseries until conditions are more favorable.
Elkhorn coral is native to the Caribbean, but is critically endangered, with reports indicating population losses of 97 percent across the Caribbean since the 1980s. Many locations have seen an eradication of elkhorn coral following the 2023-2024 marine heatwave. For the Bahamas, this coral remains a vital reef-building species, supporting both marine ecosystems and the economy by providing coastal protection and critical nursery and feeding habitat for fish and invertebrates.
As part of MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Reefs Program, coral fragments are grown in underwater nurseries before being “outplanted,” a process in which they are carefully returned to natural reefs. This helps support reef recovery and generates data to inform future restoration decisions.
The Browns Cay site was chosen following reef surveys and biodiversity assessments that identified suitable conditions for outplanting. Forecasts indicate an increased risk of marine heat stress in the northern Caribbean late this summer. Heat stress disrupts the relationship between corals and the algae that live within them, which gives them their color and provides much of their food. This causes corals to expel the algae and turn white — a process known as coral bleaching.
Without their main source of food, corals become more vulnerable to disease and death as they essential starve. The corals being harvested, grown, and outplanted at Ocean Cay were carefully sourced from colonies that demonstrated natural tolerance to heat stress and 100 percent survival through the 2023-2024 heat wave.
As the temperatures forecast for the upcoming marine heatwave are expected to reach even higher levels, marine scientists will monitor the coral reefs around Ocean Cay monthly to track the health and resilience of the outplanted and natural corals. Once the marine heat wave has passed, the next step is to resume the outplanting process and replenish the nursery with new coral fragments.
Visitors to MSC’s Ocean Cay can learn more about the MSC Foundation and its Super Coral Reefs Program by visiting the Marine Conservation Center located on the island.
