Ocean Cay MSC receives major environmental accreditation

Pierfrancesco Vago has been appointed as the Champion for the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve which has been formally designated a ‘Hot Spot’ by Mission Blue.

Ocean Cay MSC joins a network of 154 Hot Spots – places recognised as critical to ocean health with the ultimate goal of achieving the status of Marine Protected Areas – under the Mission Blue banner, a non for profit organisation to promote the protection of marine ecosystems.

MSC Cruises took over the responsibility of Ocean Cay in 2015, an artificial island that had suffered from decades of industrial work such as aragonite sand mining.

MSC embarked on an ambitious restoration initiative, collaborating with the Government of The Bahamas, leading universities, marine scientists and conservations to restore the island’s ecosystems.

The project has already seen nearly 5,000 trees and 75,000 plants, flowers and shrubs planted on the island and the health of surrounding waterways is also flourishing with strengthened numbers of marine life like the loggerhead sea turtle.

Loggerhead sea turtle. (Supplied)

The Marine Restoration Programme covers 64 square kilometres of marine waters and ecosystems around Ocean Cay and furthered its practices to surrounding reefs under the Super Coral Programme.

The MSC Foundation is also planning to further this work and engage the attention of many thousands of cruise visitors every year, raising awareness of the urgent need for ocean conservation efforts worldwide.

“This recognizes the comprehensive restoration efforts and commitment to protecting marine biodiversity,” president and chairman, Mission Blue, Dr. Sylvia Earle, said on the designation of Hope Spot status to Ocean Cay.

“Led by Pierfrancesco Vago, the restoration of Ocean Cay has been a multidisciplinary effort to re-establish the ecological balance in this limestone island and its surrounding marine estate.

Ocean Cay will inform thousands of people weekly about the crucial importance of growing and out planting thermally tolerant corals for marine conservation, ocean health and human wellbeing.”

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Foundation Board Member and Chair of the Executive Committee, and Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, agreed it is a momentous occasion for MSC and Ocean Cay.

“Being designated a Hope Spot is an important recognition for Ocean Cay Marine Reserve and helps focus attention on how we all have an important duty as caretakers of our Blue Planet,” he, said.

“That responsibility is why the scientific research and restoration efforts of our Super Coral Programme aim not just to create resilient coral reefs around Ocean Cay and in The Bahamas, but to simultaneously contribute to conservation knowledge and initiatives worldwide.

“I thank Dr. Sylvia Earle and Mission Blue for their tireless efforts, which inspire us all to cherish and safeguard the rich biodiversity of our oceans.”

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Dr Sylvia Earle msc Ocean Cay Ocean Cay The Marine Restoration Programme Pierfrancesco Vago