Transforming ocean conservation finance
MCC is an ocean-native standards, MRV and registry infrastructure for marine conservation outcomes — combining scientific rigour, independent third-party verification, and AI-assisted quality assurance to make ocean-based projects credible, measurable, and investable.
Counts are live from the public registry API.
Our Mission
Building the Infrastructure for Ocean Conservation Finance
MCC is not just a marketplace, and not just a registry — it is the institutional and digital framework needed to make ocean-based projects credible, measurable, and investable. We combine scientific rigour, independent third-party verification, and global standards to deliver an ocean-native conservation credit system.
The ocean is critically important to climate, biodiversity, fisheries, and global ecological stability, yet it receives less than 1% of climate finance and remains deeply underrepresented in existing environmental credit systems. MCC is being built to close that gap — providing marine conservation projects with the same institutional rigor, market transparency, and financing mechanisms that have proven transformative for land-based conservation.
Platform Architecture
The Six MCC Layers
From standard-setting to credit issuance — six integrated layers that ensure every marine conservation credit is rigorous, transparent, and impactful.
The Opportunity
Why the Ocean Needs MCC
The ocean faces unprecedented challenges — and an extraordinary opportunity for finance and conservation.
Ocean Share of Climate Finance
Despite covering 71% of Earth and storing 50x more carbon than the atmosphere, oceans receive less than 1% of global climate finance.
Annual Conservation Funding Gap
The world needs $350 billion annually for ocean conservation — we currently spend less than $10 billion.
Marine Biodiversity Loss
Coastal ecosystems have declined by 35% in the past 50 years. Mangroves, seagrass, and kelp forests are disappearing faster than rainforests.
People Dependent on Ocean Fisheries
Over 1.3 billion people depend on marine fisheries for food security and livelihoods — all threatened by ecosystem collapse.
What MCC Enables
- ✓Direct financing for marine conservation projects globally
- ✓Recognition of biodiversity value beyond carbon alone
- ✓Transparent tracking of conservation outcomes in real time
- ✓Investment-grade environmental credits for institutional buyers
- ✓Support for coastal communities and indigenous rights
- ✓Contribution to Paris Agreement and Kunming-Montreal Framework targets
What are marine conservation credits?
Serialised units representing independently verified outcomes in marine and coastal ecosystems. The MCC programme issues three categories: MCC-CC (coastal carbon sequestration), MCC-HYB (carbon plus quantified biodiversity co-benefits) and MCC-MCU (conservation units quantifying biodiversity, habitat and species outcomes independently of carbon). Each credit is tracked on the MCC Registry with a permanent issuance and retirement record.
Are MCC credits the same as carbon offsets?
No. MCC credits are issued and retired under a contribution-first framework (MCC-800 and the Claims Policy). Buyers cannot use MCC retirements to support claims of carbon offsetting, neutrality, or net-zero. Permitted retirement language is published in the Claims Policy and enforced at the point of retirement.
Which international frameworks does MCC reference?
MCC methodologies are designed against the Paris Agreement Article 6, ICVCM Core Carbon Principles, IPCC Tier 2/3 guidance (including the 2013 Wetlands Supplement), ISO 14064/14065, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and TNFD/EU CSRD nature-related disclosure practice. References indicate technical alignment — they are not endorsements, accreditations or eligibility determinations by the issuing bodies.
How does MCC ensure credit integrity?
Each project must complete methodology validation, an independent third-party verification opinion under ISO 14065, governance approval, and continuous Sentinel-2 monitoring. A project-specific buffer share is withheld at issuance. Reversal events trigger buffer release and quarantine. Double counting is prevented at the registry; corresponding adjustment is supported for Article 6 transfers where authorised.
Who can develop projects on MCC?
Governments, NGOs, community organisations, research institutions and private-sector developers can register projects. Proponents must demonstrate additionality, host-country no-objection where applicable, free prior and informed consent of affected communities, and conformance with the relevant MCC methodology family.
Can I purchase MCC credits today?
The MCC programme is in pre-launch and no credits have been issued. The registry carries the lead pilot of the programme in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia, which is under review. Buyers, investors and host countries are invited to contact the programme administrator to participate in the pilot phase.