Latest news with #oceanhealth
Skift
15 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
MSC Cruises Is Reimagining the Private Island Experience Through Conservation
Cruise lines are rethinking what drives guest interest in a destination. Conservation-led private islands investing in ocean health and local communities are creating the kind of differentiation guests increasingly expect and value. This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner. Private islands have become unique opportunities for cruise lines looking to create a memorable guest experience and diversify their brand. At the same time, there's a growing interest in experiences focused on quiet, nature-based engagement. Recent research from the Galápagos Islands found that satisfaction and loyalty are highest in destinations that provide ecological engagement, structured learning, and time for quiet reflection. This shift is happening against a backdrop of timely events, including the most severe coral reef bleaching on record between January 2023 and April 2025, which has left 84% of surveyed reefs pale white due to extreme heat stress. As World Oceans Day and World Reef Awareness Day take place this week, the time is now to take action. Amid these events, private islands' long-term relevance depends on their ability to support conservation and deliver experiences that align with travelers' growing expectations for sustainability while still providing exceptional hospitality. Initiatives that promote ocean health and environmental conservation in tandem with memorable hospitality will be critical differentiators in the competitive Caribbean cruise market. Innovating with Purpose Located in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is an example of this shift. MSC Cruises has transformed this former abandoned industrial site into a destination rooted in conservation and restoration. 'We took a different approach to developing Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve because we wanted to create a destination that provides travelers a deeper connection to nature,' said Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America. 'We envisioned Ocean Cay as a living example of regeneration and ocean stewardship in line with the growing desire among travelers for destinations that align with their values and contribute to the planet's health.' Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Source: MSC Cruises Before MSC Cruises entered the picture, the island was a sand excavation site left in poor condition after decades of industrial activity. MSC Cruises made significant investments to rehabilitate the neglected island, removing thousands of tons of scrap metal, relocating almost a million cubic yards of sand, and planting 5,000 palm trees and 75,000 native shrubs. The company also replaced the island's industrial scars with native vegetation, installed solar infrastructure to reduce its environmental footprint, and kept shoreline development to a minimum to protect the coastal ecosystem. Integrating Conservation Into the Guest Experience The island experience at Ocean Cay begins with nature and circles back to conserving it: What looks like a tropical escape is one of the Caribbean's most ambitious coral restoration projects. The MSC Foundation (MSC Group's philanthropic arm focused on environmental protection, education, and community support) restores endangered coral species and studies their ability to withstand rising ocean temperatures through its Super Coral Reefs Program. 'Our vision is to turn scientific discovery into real-world impact by combining research with restoration and education. We're not only growing thermally resilient coral but also growing awareness,' said Daniela Picco, executive director of the MSC Foundation. At the heart of this work, the newly opened Marine Conservation Center houses 22 coral tanks, a fully equipped bio lab, and a lecture hall. The center functions as a base for restoration and research, an educational hub, and a guest-facing venue that integrates regeneration directly into the guest experience. Ocean Cay Marine Conservation Center. Source: MSC Cruises The island encourages guests to slow down and engage with the environment. On target to begin in the fall, guests can attend talks from marine conservation experts, watch coral restoration efforts in progress, or join guided eco-excursions that explore the fragility and resilience of the island's surrounding reef. 'These experiences allow guests to deepen their understanding of coral restoration, making them active participants in Ocean Cay's ongoing story of environmental stewardship,' said Torrent. The work extends well beyond what guests see on the island. Populated by five coral species and 13 genotypes, the offshore coral nursery has achieved a 100% survival rate through the 2023 Caribbean marine heatwave. Scaling Impact According to Torrent, the next phase involves outplanting coral fragments for long-term reef restoration efforts. As of April 2025, MSC Foundation has already begun outplanting nursery-grown coral fragments at two reef sites near Ocean Cay in partnership with the Perry Institute for Marine Science. Together, they've planted over 200 fragments across five species, including the critically endangered elkhorn coral, at varying depths based on their maturity and potential for long-term survival. Divers cleaned the seafloor and secured the fragments using marine-safe cement, placing genetically related colonies in proximity to encourage natural fusion and improve reef resilience. Ocean Cay underwater coral nursery. Source: MSC Cruises This conservation-first model has brought Ocean Cay recognition within the global marine science and conservation community. Mission Blue declared the island a Hope Spot, placing it in a global network of over 160 locations that scientists identify as critical to ocean health. Founded by oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue highlights marine areas with the potential for ecological restoration. "Ocean Cay's restoration has been a multidisciplinary effort to re-establish the ecological balance of this limestone island and its surrounding marine estate," said Earle. "It informs thousands of people weekly about the importance of growing and outplanting thermally tolerant corals for marine conservation, ocean health, and human wellbeing." Economic Anchoring and Local Impact in the Bahamas As a fully staffed island destination, Ocean Cay has become a local employer with nearly 300 employees, with Bahamians making up 80% of its workforce. MSC Cruises plans to grow that number to over 500 employees in the next two to four years, increasing Bahamian representation across all services and roles. This investment takes many forms. MSC Cruises has partnered with local institutions to offer scholarships and internships for Bahamian students in marine science and sustainability, with the aim of helping build the country's future conservation workforce. 'A critical aspect of our Foundation's work are partnerships with universities such as Nova Southeastern, the University of Miami, the University of The Bahamas, and The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) to enable hands-on education and internships, passing on Ocean Cay's coral restoration commitment to the next generation of marine conservation leaders,' said Torrent. 'Our long-term vision is to deepen these collaborations, expand coral outplanting efforts, and scale public education programs.' She continued: 'Over the next decade, the most successful private islands will be those that go beyond scenic beauty and entertainment. They'll offer authentic experiences that deliver real value to nature and local communities.' That model is already taking shape at Ocean Cay. As more travelers seek out destinations with depth and purpose, it may well become the blueprint others follow. To learn more about MSC Cruises, click here. This content was created collaboratively by MSC Cruises and Skift's branded content studio, SkiftX.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Calving season ends for North Atlantic right whales as conservationists hope for population recovery
A pair of North Atlantic right whales interact at the surface of Cape Cod Bay, March 27, 2023, in Massachusetts. For the past eight years, the North Atlantic right whale population has been fighting for its life. In 2017, 17 whales died from a combination of vessel strikes, entanglements, and unknown causes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They suffered 10 more deaths in 2019. In nearly a decade, 157 right whales have died or suffered serious injuries or illnesses, prompting the declaration of an unusual mortality event (UME) for the species. 'Understanding and investigating marine mammal UMEs is crucial because they can be indicators of ocean health, giving insight into larger environmental issues which may also have implications for human health,' reads the NOAA website. The calving season for the North Atlantic right whale recently ended, with the New England Aquarium reporting 11 confirmed mother-calf pairings. 'If you look over averages, 11 is actually the average number born,' said Kim Elmslie, campaign director with Oceana Canada. 'Last year, 20 calves were born and four of those calves are presumed to have died. 'The ideal number to hit is 50 calves, some models say. In 2009 there were 39 calves born, which is still a low number for this species. Every calf is to be celebrated, but we want to see more.' NOAA estimates there are roughly 370 North Atlantic right whales left; in 2017 that number sat at 431. Fifteen years ago the population rested at 477. Elmslie notes the raw numbers only tell half the story of the challenge facing the species. 'Of that population that are about 370, only 70 are reproductive females,' she said. 'If that number were to drop below 50, we'd have a crisis for the species.' Entanglements pose an ever-present threat to right whales, a fact that was hammered home this week as Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) reported an entangled whale that was spotted on the north shore of the St. Lawrence estuary. Oceana Canada said it was the first reported right whale entanglement in Canadian waters this year. DFO said the whale, which was identified as a juvenile male born in 2021, was first sighted entangled in North Carolina last December. Due to the ongoing entanglements, Oceana Canada has advocated for ropeless fishing gear to reduce the incidents. Elmslie says there is support from the fishing industry for exploring those kinds of opportunities. 'There are some unique opportunities as we see markets start to shift,' she said. 'It's a very interesting time globally. Canada might be poised in an interesting way to take advantage of these opportunities.' As the summer rolls along, Oceana Canada and other organizations will be keeping a close eye on the North Atlantic right whale population. 'Every year, everybody holds their breath,' she said.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Portsmouth uni and GB Row Challenge research finds UK seas are warming
Data, collected by rowers who circumnavigated Great Britain and analysed by university researchers, has found that sea temperatures have risen.A report by the University of Portsmouth and GB Row Challenge found UK seas were, on average, 0.39C (32.7F) warmer in 2023 compared to data was collected by a crew who took part in the 2023 GB Row Challenge which saw participants travel more than 2000 miles (3219 km) around of environmental pollution at the University of Portsmouth, Fay Couceiro, said: "We expect fluctuations but we don't want to see this increasing number of marine heatwaves." Some regions, including the Celtic and Irish Seas and the northern North Sea, experienced temperature increases exceeding 2C (35.6F), during a marine said the data gives an important indication of the health of our oceans."Understanding it allows us to better protect the species that are there," she added that sessile organisms like mussels and oysters, which are unable to move themselves to cooler waters. were most affected by the rising temperatures. Environmental DNA, underwater sound and microplastic data was also collected by the the surprising findings was a fragment of Bakelite plastic found in Clacton-on-Sea north of the Thames was the first commercially produced synthetic plastic, which was widely used in the early 1900s and largely discontinued in the 1940s."Despite being phased out of production decades ago, this possible century-old relic has persisted, highlighting how plastics can linger in ecosystems for generations," Ms Couceiro said."This longevity contributes to the accumulation of microplastics, which infiltrate our soils, waterways, and even the food chain, posing risks to both environmental and human health. The finding serves as a reminder of the urgent need for sustainable materials and robust waste management practices to address the escalating global plastic crisis." 'Citizen science' Team Ithaca, an all-female rowing crew, were responsible for gathering the group also went on to become the fastest female team to row around Great Row Challenge founder, William de Laszlo said: "Team Ithaca's expedition highlights the potential of citizen science in contributing to environmental research."Their dedication and resilience have not only set a new benchmark in ocean rowing but have also provided critical insights into the challenges facing Britain's coastal waters." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The birds on this tiny, remote island are so full of plastic their bellies crunch
On a remote, crescent-shaped island surrounded by crystal-clear ocean live some of the most plastic-contaminated birds in the world. They have bellies so full of fragments, they crunch when touched. Lord Howe Island — a speck of land about 370 miles off mainland Australia, home to just a few hundred people — is the breeding ground for tens of thousands of sable shearwaters: dark brown-colored, long-winged ocean birds with strong hooked bills. Scientists from the ocean research group Adrift Lab have been visiting for nearly two decades to monitor these birds' exposure to plastic pollution. Every year they find more contamination, but this year was shocking, said Jennifer Lavers, a marine biologist and coordinator of Adrift Lab, who recently returned from the island. Shearwaters were found with levels of plastic far exceeding anything the scientists had seen before. They discovered an extraordinary 778 pieces of plastic inside one chick alone, smashing the previous record of 403 pieces. It 'left us all speechless,' Lavers said. The scientists are now trying to solve the mystery of why this year was so bad. Plastic pollution is on the rise but 'does that explain a doubling in 12 months? Absolutely not,' she told CNN. 'So there's something else going on.' Seabirds are often referred to as sentinels for ocean health, and the story they're telling is alarming. Global populations have declined 70% over the last 50 years as they grapple with multiple threats, including from invasive species, the fishing industry and climate change. Plastic pollution is yet another danger and a particularly 'insidious' one as its impacts are so hard to detect, said Richard Phillips, a seabird ecologist at the British Antarctic Survey. Lord Howe Island offers a unique natural laboratory for studying seabirds. The shearwaters reliably come back to the same breeding colony each year , usually within inches of the same burrow, allowing scientists to track individual birds' progress. 'There's nowhere else in the world that I can think of where we could do a study like this,' Lavers said. The scientists visit every April and May, when the chicks are leaving their burrows for the first time and preparing to take their first big migration to the Sea of Japan. Shearwaters are nocturnal, so every dawn, the scientists go to the beach to find chicks that were too weak and emaciated to make the flight. They bring them back to the lab to examine them. 'We often see high levels of plastic in these birds,' said Alix de Jersey, a researcher at the University of Tasmania. The scientists return to the beach at night to analyze the healthier birds getting ready to fly. They 'lavage' them using a feeding tube, gently pumping water into their stomachs to make them vomit up the plastic. The process may not be pleasant, de Jersey said, but 'it's just fantastic knowing that that bird is starting its migration without this huge load of plastic within its stomach.' Most of the plastic found in the birds this year was made up of unidentifiable fragments but they also found bottle caps, tile dividers and large amounts of plastic cutlery, de Jersey told CNN. The plastic accumulates inside the birds' bodies and can form a kind of brick. The pollution is so crammed into some shearwaters, it's audible. 'You can hear the crunching of the bottle caps and the shards and things shifting and moving against each other,' Lavers said. The scientists believe most plastic is ingested due to parents accidentally feeding it to their chicks, instead of the fish and squid that make up their usual diet. Plastic may smell good to birds because of the algae that can coat it, said Matthew Savoca, a marine ecologist at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Stanford University. 'Other times, birds may eat something that has already eaten plastic,' he told CNN. Shearwaters are particularly vulnerable because, while some birds will regularly throw up what they cannot digest, shearwaters 'only tend to regurgitate when feeding their chicks. The structure of their gut also means that plastic items are retained for a long time,' said Bethany Clark, senior seabird science officer at the conservation group BirdLife International. Scientists are still trying to unpick the health impacts; many are largely invisible. The Adrift Lab scientists take blood samples and dissect the dead birds. This year, as soon as they opened up the shearwaters, it was obvious there were 'systemic issues,' de Jersey said. She found scarring on the birds' kidneys and hearts. Plastic can block birds' intestines or cause starvation, but there are also 'sub-lethal' effects, Lavers said. 'They don't kill the animal instantly, but they do cause it to have a shorter life span (and) lots of pain and suffering.' Big pieces of plastic can dig into the birds' stomachs, causing excessive amounts of scar tissue. Microplastics might pass through the birds but leave a trail of toxic chemicals. The Adrift Lab team have even found eating plastic can cause 'dementia-like' brain damage in shearwater chicks. Over the last decade, the team has seen a very consistent decline in the birds' body mass, wing length and other measures. Lavers used to consistently find chicks too heavy for her 1 kilogram scales (2.2 pounds), but now the very heaviest top out at about 800 grams (1.8 pounds). What's happening to the birds on Lord Howe Island is 'truly troubling,' said Kimberly Warner, senior scientist at Oceana, an ocean conservation organization. Global plastic pollution is only getting worse, especially as cheap, single-use plastics — the vast majority made from planet-heating fossil fuels — continue to flood the market. An estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic waste enter the oceans each year, roughly equivalent to two garbage trucks-full dumped in every minute, according to Oceana. It takes centuries to break down. Horrifying images of dead albatrosses with clusters of colorful plastic spilling from their bodies, turtles eating plastic bags and whales entangled in plastic fishing nets are testament to how this pollution is affecting marine life. 'It's a crisis, and it's rapidly worsening,' said Lavers, who is still reeling from what they found on Lord Howe Island this year. 'I don't have words. I don't know how to explain what it is that I'm seeing.'
CNN
23-05-2025
- Science
- CNN
The birds on this tiny, remote island are so full of plastic their bellies crunch
Animal storiesFacebookTweetLink Follow On a remote, crescent-shaped island surrounded by crystal-clear ocean live some of the most plastic-contaminated birds in the world. They have bellies so full of fragments, they crunch when touched. Lord Howe Island — a speck of land about 370 miles off mainland Australia, home to just a few hundred people — is the breeding ground for tens of thousands of sable shearwaters: dark brown-colored, long-winged ocean birds with strong hooked bills. Scientists from the ocean research group Adrift Lab have been visiting for nearly two decades to monitor these birds' exposure to plastic pollution. Every year they find more contamination, but this year was shocking, said Jennifer Lavers, a marine biologist and coordinator of Adrift Lab, who recently returned from the island. Shearwaters were found with levels of plastic far exceeding anything the scientists had seen before. They discovered an extraordinary 778 pieces of plastic inside one chick alone, smashing the previous record of 403 pieces. It 'left us all speechless,' Lavers said. The scientists are now trying to solve the mystery of why this year was so bad. Plastic pollution is on the rise but 'does that explain a doubling in 12 months? Absolutely not,' she told CNN. 'So there's something else going on.' Seabirds are often referred to as sentinels for ocean health, and the story they're telling is alarming. Global populations have declined 70% over the last 50 years as they grapple with multiple threats, including from invasive species, the fishing industry and climate change. Plastic pollution is yet another danger and a particularly 'insidious' one as its impacts are so hard to detect, said Richard Phillips, a seabird ecologist at the British Antarctic Survey. Lord Howe Island offers a unique natural laboratory for studying seabirds. The shearwaters reliably come back to the same breeding colony each year, usually within inches of the same burrow, allowing scientists to track individual birds' progress. 'There's nowhere else in the world that I can think of where we could do a study like this,' Lavers said. The scientists visit every April and May, when the chicks are leaving their burrows for the first time and preparing to take their first big migration to the Sea of Japan. Shearwaters are nocturnal, so every dawn, the scientists go to the beach to find chicks that were too weak and emaciated to make the flight. They bring them back to the lab to examine them. 'We often see high levels of plastic in these birds,' said Alix de Jersey, a researcher at the University of Tasmania. The scientists return to the beach at night to analyze the healthier birds getting ready to fly. They 'lavage' them using a feeding tube, gently pumping water into their stomachs to make them vomit up the plastic. The process may not be pleasant, de Jersey said, but 'it's just fantastic knowing that that bird is starting its migration without this huge load of plastic within its stomach.' Most of the plastic found in the birds this year was made up of unidentifiable fragments but they also found bottle caps, tile dividers and large amounts of plastic cutlery, de Jersey told CNN. The plastic accumulates inside the birds' bodies and can form a kind of brick. The pollution is so crammed into some shearwaters, it's audible. 'You can hear the crunching of the bottle caps and the shards and things shifting and moving against each other,' Lavers said. Listen to plastic crunching inside birds Sable shearwater birds on Australia's Lord Howe Island are so full of plastic their bellies make an audible crunching sound when scientists touch them. Source: Dr Jennifer Lavers/Adrift Lab The scientists believe most plastic is ingested due to parents accidentally feeding it to their chicks, instead of the fish and squid that make up their usual diet. Plastic may smell good to birds because of the algae that can coat it, said Matthew Savoca, a marine ecologist at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Stanford University. 'Other times, birds may eat something that has already eaten plastic,' he told CNN. Shearwaters are particularly vulnerable because, while some birds will regularly throw up what they cannot digest, shearwaters 'only tend to regurgitate when feeding their chicks. The structure of their gut also means that plastic items are retained for a long time,' said Bethany Clark, senior seabird science officer at the conservation group BirdLife International. Scientists are still trying to unpick the health impacts; many are largely invisible. The Adrift Lab scientists take blood samples and dissect the dead birds. This year, as soon as they opened up the shearwaters, it was obvious there were 'systemic issues,' de Jersey said. She found scarring on the birds' kidneys and hearts. Plastic can block birds' intestines or cause starvation, but there are also 'sub-lethal' effects, Lavers said. 'They don't kill the animal instantly, but they do cause it to have a shorter life span (and) lots of pain and suffering.' Big pieces of plastic can dig into the birds' stomachs, causing excessive amounts of scar tissue. Microplastics might pass through the birds but leave a trail of toxic chemicals. The Adrift Lab team have even found eating plastic can cause 'dementia-like' brain damage in shearwater chicks. Over the last decade, the team has seen a very consistent decline in the birds' body mass, wing length and other measures. Lavers used to consistently find chicks too heavy for her 1 kilogram scales (2.2 pounds), but now the very heaviest top out at about 800 grams (1.8 pounds). What's happening to the birds on Lord Howe Island is 'truly troubling,' said Kimberly Warner, senior scientist at Oceana, an ocean conservation organization. Global plastic pollution is only getting worse, especially as cheap, single-use plastics — the vast majority made from planet-heating fossil fuels — continue to flood the market. An estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic waste enter the oceans each year, roughly equivalent to two garbage trucks-full dumped in every minute, according to Oceana. It takes centuries to break down. Horrifying images of dead albatrosses with clusters of colorful plastic spilling from their bodies, turtles eating plastic bags and whales entangled in plastic fishing nets are testament to how this pollution is affecting marine life. 'It's a crisis, and it's rapidly worsening,' said Lavers, who is still reeling from what they found on Lord Howe Island this year. 'I don't have words. I don't know how to explain what it is that I'm seeing.'
