In the warm waters off Castle Harbour, Bermuda's coral gardens are growing back—and now a five-year partnership between PwC Bermuda and the Living Reefs Foundation is poised to accelerate the work of bringing these vital ecosystems back to life.
PwC Bermuda has committed $60,000 in funding and professional services to support the Living Reefs Foundation's conservation efforts, marking a significant corporate investment in ocean restoration. The commitment will fund the foundation's Coral Garden initiative, including the development of a snorkel trail in Castle Harbour and a new engine for the organisation's research boat. Beyond the financial contribution, PwC will provide annual assurance service hours over five years—professional expertise that strengthens the foundation's capacity to conduct rigorous research and expand its work.
The partnership reflects a growing recognition that coral reef restoration isn't merely environmental idealism; it's climate adaptation with measurable results. Bermuda's reefs face mounting pressures from warming waters and storm damage, making them critical infrastructure for the island's future. The Living Reefs Foundation, founded by Samia Sarkis, has already demonstrated the viability of large-scale coral restoration through its work cultivating seven coral species and achieving a 98 per cent survival rate over a 12-month period. The foundation has also planted corals specifically designed to help protect the Causeway from hurricane damage—a tangible example of nature-based resilience.
The snorkel trail project promises to do more than facilitate research: it will transform public understanding of Bermuda's marine heritage. Guided eco-tours through the Coral Garden have already generated growing demand, bringing residents and visitors face-to-face with the corals being restored and the work required to save them. When people see coral recovery in action, the case for ocean protection becomes personal and urgent.
Marisa Savage, a partner at PwC Bermuda, positioned the commitment within the firm's broader focus on climate resilience and environmental sustainability. She hoped the financial contribution, equipment support, and professional expertise would help the foundation expand its conservation efforts and protect Bermuda's marine environment for future generations. For the Living Reefs Foundation, the partnership arrives at a pivotal moment. The new boat engine will provide more reliable and efficient means of conducting offshore research, while the snorkel trail investment will amplify public engagement at precisely the scale needed to build long-term political and community support for marine conservation.
This is how coral restoration scales: not through heroic individual effort, but through partnerships that combine scientific expertise, corporate resources, and sustained commitment. PwC's five-year pledge signals that this work isn't a one-time initiative but an ongoing partnership grounded in accountability. For Bermuda's reefs and the countless species that depend on them, the timing couldn't be more critical.