Carnival Pledge £1.6m to Ocean Preservation

The Carnival Corporation has announced that its charitable branch, the Carnival Foundation, is set to pledge $2.5m (£1.6) to The Nature Conservancy to help preserve the oceans of the world. The Nature Conservancy is dedicated to helping protect and preserve the oceans and the lives they support.

The donation will be gifted to the organisation over the five year period helping with a number of key activities including the development of new coral nurseries in the Caribbean and transplanting 20,000 corals in the Bahamas and US Virgin Islands. Additionally, the organisation is looking to install a brand new pilot reef enhancement structure in Grenada’s Grenville Bay.

Maria Damanaki, global managing director for The Nature Conservancy’s Ocean Program, explained: “As we look ahead to the next four years, by supporting our Caribbean Challenge Initiative, Carnival Foundation’s support will help nearly triple the protection of the region’s iconic waters and coasts by helping conserve 21 million acres of these important areas. Through The Nature Conservancy’s Mapping Ocean Wealth project, Carnival Foundation’s support will also provide knowledge necessary to protect our waters and transform their management now and for generations to come.”

The Carnival Foundation support team have also moved to help The Nature Conservancy identify the key locations where local industries and the communities are most dependent upon the marine and coastal resources. This includes a number of important port destinations for Carnival Cruise Line and the Carnival Corporation brands.

Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival, added: “As the world’s largest cruise company, we have a deep commitment to protecting and sustaining the environment. The Nature Conservancy strategically leveraged our support in the last 12 months to continue its mission of protecting and maintaining healthy oceans and seas, and we know its ongoing dedication will continue to create a positive and lasting impression on the environment.”

Cruise ships and cruise lines have faced backlash over the years regarding their impact upon the world’s water and coastal cities – most notably in Venice. However, the good work carried out by the industry is often sadly overlooked.

Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Scarhead