MSC Foundation Supports New Study on Coral Extinction Risks

The MSC Foundation is supporting groundbreaking research from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, revealing that 44 percent of reef-building coral species are now at risk of extinction, according to a recent press release.

The findings were presented at the COP29 UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. MSC Foundation Executive Director Daniela Picco joined IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis and other experts at the Global Corals Update to discuss how the Foundation will integrate these critical findings into its conservation initiatives and grant-making strategies.

“This Global Coral Assessment raises the alarm for urgent collective action to stop the decline of coral reefs worldwide. The MSC Foundation is proud to partner with the IUCN Coral Red List team, who has done an exceptional job collecting the data to assess and report on the status of the world’s reef-building corals,” said Picco.

She continued, “The IUCN Red List guides our Foundation in making science-based philanthropic decisions for long-term, effective conservation efforts that help preserve our planet. It will remain an essential resource for our family-led Foundation for generations.”

According to IUCN’s latest evaluation, warm-water reef-building coral species face a growing risk of extinction. While one-third of these corals were classified as threatened back in 2008, the updated data now shows that around 44 percent are at risk, mainly due to climate change, ocean warming, and severe coral bleaching events. Other significant threats include pollution, agricultural runoff, disease, and unsustainable fishing practices.

The report emphasizes the significance of the MSC Foundation’s conservation efforts on Ocean Cay in The Bahamas, where they are involved in cultivating resilient, Critically Endangered Elkhorn Coral species in an open-water nursery, as stated by the company.