The MSC Foundation has partnered with NatureMetrics, a pioneering company in nature intelligence and specialists in environmental DNA. The main objective of this project, called “eBioAtlas: Biodiversity Sampling from Cruise Liners using eDNA,” is to collect data on the biodiversity of marine species using the innovative technique of DNA sampling.
By collecting electronic DNA from seawater on board and sending it to NatureMetrics for analysis, marine life present along MSC Cruises' itineraries can be discovered and recorded. eBioAtlas expands the vast reach of the global community, which now includes MSC Cruises and the MSC Foundation, to come together and provide a new, harmonized biodiversity data layer that will drive decision-making for the benefit of both people and nature.
Through close collaboration with local stakeholders, marine non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national governments and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, this initiative will enable updated assessments and reassessments of marine species in the North Atlantic.
Dr. Kat Bruce, founder of NatureMetrics, stated: “This collaboration is crucial in our efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by the end of the decade. The MSC Foundation’s pioneering work in collecting and sharing biodiversity data with our eBioAtlas program will provide us with insights into nature that will enable us to make informed decisions about marine conservation on a global scale.”
The eBioAtlas program will acquire biodiversity data from three different MSC Cruises itineraries, providing accurate information for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This valuable data will be made freely available to third parties through the eBioAtlas partnership between NatureMetrics and the IUCN, supporting conservation and restoration efforts throughout the North Atlantic.
The first vessel to participate in the sampling initiative will be MSC Euribia, which will begin collecting data in the Nordic region (Norway and the North Sea), followed by MSC Poesia (Iceland, Greenland) and MSC Preziosa (Iceland, Norway and Svalbard).
Daniela Picco, executive director of the MSC Foundation, added: “The MSC Foundation is committed to advancing ocean conservation through science. Therefore, it was a natural fit for us to join forces with NatureMetrics to support biodiversity mapping, helping the International Union for Conservation of Nature to conduct assessments that are critical indicators of the health of the ocean .”
Marina Anselme, Secretary General of the MSC Foundation, explained: “The MSC Foundation is delighted to facilitate and fund this innovative partnership with NatureMetrics and MSC Cruises. This partnership is a clear example of our commitment to protecting our oceans and creating a positive future for nature and for generations to come.”
