Carlos Mallo Wins the 2025 Goldman Prize for His Fight for the Ocean
From concrete and steel, to marine conservation: The inspiring story of a civil engineer who changed the course of his life to protect the ocean.
Today we celebrate a historic milestone: Carlos Mallo Molina, founder and CEO of Innoceana, has been awarded the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize, often referred to as the “Green Nobel.” This prestigious recognition highlights his outstanding contribution to the protection of marine ecosystems in the Canary Islands and his tireless commitment to ocean conservation around the World.
The Goldman Prize, awarded annually to grassroots environmental leaders around the world, rightfully honors individuals like Carlos—people who drive real change on the ground in defense of the planet.
From Civil Engineer to Ocean Advocate
In 2014, Carlos was working as a civil engineer on the construction of Tenerife’s ring road, specifically at the Fonsalía junction, when he began scuba diving in his free time and earned his divemaster certification. His passion for the ocean, however, began much earlier—growing up in Galicia, where his father, a port construction engineer, often took him to coastal sites. This early exposure inspired him to fall in love with the sea as a child. Years later, this intimate connection with the ocean sparked a deep concern about the environmental impact of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Years later, after a life-changing trip to Thailand, he decided to leave behind his career in civil engineering and founded Innoceana, with the mission of protecting the ocean and promoting its conservation through science, education, and technology.
The Fight for Fonsalía: A Citizen Victory
Through Innoceana, Carlos joined the grassroots platform “Salvar Fonsalía”, a movement grounded in science, media, and community support, aimed at stopping the massive Fonsalía Port project. The planned development threatened the Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation in southern Tenerife—home to more than 21 species of cetaceans, marine turtles, sharks, and endangered seagrass meadows.
Together with the community and organizations — including his own, Innoceana — Carlos worked tirelessly to expose the environmental risks of the project. They gathered over 420,000 signatures and mobilized an entire society. In October 2021, the Canary Islands Parliament officially announced the cancellation of the project. His background in civil, canal, and port engineering was key to dismantling the technical arguments behind the proposal, and his role as a civil engineer specialized in ports (Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos) was instrumental in achieving this historic victory.
From Activism to Action: The Birth of Project HOPE
But Carlos and Innoceana didn’t stop there. His vision wasn’t just to stop the harm — it was to create something meaningful in its place. That’s how the HOPE Project was born. Conceived in 2019, HOPE is a Marine Conservation and Awareness Center located in the very area where the Fonsalía mega-port was once planned — transforming a threatened site into a symbol of protection and regeneration.
HOPE, co-financed by EU FEDER Interreg MAC 2021–2027, is led by Innoceana and will become the first Marine Conservation and Education Center in the Canary Islands of its kind. Located precisely where the port was once planned, the center will offer educational programs, marine animal rescue, and immersive experiences to reconnect people with the ocean. The project also has an international outlook, with strategic partnerships in Spain, Portugal, Senegal, Ghana, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
A Recognition of Determination
The Goldman Prize recognizes Carlos’s work in southern Tenerife alongside Innoceana, where he has led an exemplary transformation in defense of marine biodiversity. His story is a powerful reminder that real change is possible when technical knowledge meets a deep passion for the planet.
At Innoceana, we are profoundly proud and grateful for this recognition. We will continue working harder than ever to protect our seas and empower the next generation of ocean defenders.
This is just the beginning.
You can watch the full Goldman Prize award ceremony, where Carlos Mallo is honored alongside other environmental leaders from around the world, at the following link.