On April 17, 2025, the MSC Foundation officially inaugurated its Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas, marking a significant advancement in marine research and coral restoration initiatives.
The facility is equipped with a bio-lab, a land-based coral nursery named The Aquaria housing 22 coral tanks, and a 50-seat lecture hall designed for educational programs and scientific collaboration. Additional features include interactive pavilions and a Discovery Pavilion offering guided tours, interactive exhibits, and hands-on coral restoration activities for visitors.
Serving as the central hub for the MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Programme, initiated in 2019, the center focuses on cultivating resilient coral species to rehabilitate reefs within the 64-square-mile marine reserve surrounding Ocean Cay.
The center also aims to provide educational opportunities for Bahamian students, researchers, and conservationists through partnerships with institutions 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 prominent figures including 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; the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Honourable Philip Davis; Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable I. Chester Cooper; and renowned marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle.