Carnival to work with Cayman Government to support ongoing coral reef restoration

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (3 March, 2015) Working in partnership with the government of the Cayman Islands, Carnival Cruise Line has pledged a contribution of $100,000 to the Cayman Islands National Trust to support the ongoing George Town Reef Restoration Effort.

Under the guidance of the Department of the Environment, local dive and water sports operators have been working diligently to repair damage to the reef that occurred in August 2014 when Carnival Magic’s captain was inadvertently guided by the Port Authority-licensed Pilot to drop anchor outside of the designated anchorage zone. “The fact that Carnival is supporting the DOE and the volunteer partners on this restoration project demonstrates their appreciation of Cayman’s valuable marine environment and the need to protect and maintain it,” said the Minister of Environment, Wayne Panton. “The Ministry thanks Carnival for this initial donation and we welcome their continuing partnership with us on this critical restoration work.”

“We hugely value the beautiful reefs and pristine environment that make the Cayman Islands so extraordinary,” said Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line. “When you consider that coral reefs cover less than 0.2 percent of the ocean floor, we understand the paramount importance of preserving and protecting them.”

Duffy added, “Grand Cayman is one of our guests’ favourite destinations and, as Grand Cayman’s longest-standing cruise partner and the company bringing the most guests there each year, we are very pleased to pledge this contribution in support of the ongoing coral reef restoration efforts.”

Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, Minister for Tourism, who met with Carnival Cruise Line Executives in February, commended the cruise line for its willingness to collaborate in the conservation project saying, “The Cayman Islands Government is appreciative of this gesture which has been provided in good faith by a most valued tourism partner. This initial pledge to provide funding will assist the important work being undertaken on the reef, which is largely a community effort by teams of dedicated volunteers whose primary motivation is to conserve our Island’s spectacular marine environment.”

“I am pleased to welcome Carnival Cruise Line as a partner in this important initiative and provide the assurance that this and all subsequent donations from Carnival will solely be used to support the George Town Reef Restoration Effort,” Kirkconnell continued.
The Cayman Islands are one of the world’s top diving destinations and its marine ecosystems are home to a spectacular array of vibrant fish and coral species. The Island welcomes more than 2 million visitors a year, many of whom visit to dive and snorkel in the country’s crystal clear waters on its renowned coral reefs.

About Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is “The
World’s Most Popular Cruise Line®” with 24 ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The company currently has two 133,500-ton ships on order – Carnival Vista, scheduled to enter service in 2016, and an-as-yet unnamed vessel set to debut in 2018.

About the National Trust for the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands National Trust has been “Protecting the future of Cayman’s heritage” since
its inception in 1987.The Trust is a not-for-profit NGO created to preserve the history and biodiversity of the Cayman Islands. Through education and conservation the organization works to protect environmentally sensitive and historically significant sites across all three Cayman Islands.