June 2, 2025
2025 Goldman Prize winner Carlos Mallo Molina is the CEO and founder of Innoceana, a nonprofit organization active in both the Canary Islands and Costa Rica that bridges science, education, and technology to protect the ocean.
In this Q&A, Carlos shares key tactics used in his successful campaign to prevent the construction of the Fonsalía Port, a massive recreational boat and ferry terminal that threatened a biodiverse 170,000-acre marine protected area in the Canary Islands. We’ll also discuss his background as a civil engineer and learn about current projects at Innoceana.
Goldman Prize: Welcome, Carlos! First, we’d like to start off with a congratulations on your Goldman Prize win and well-deserved recognition for your work in the Canary Islands.
Carlos: Thank you so much! It’s been a total whirlwind since I was awarded the Prize.
Goldman Prize: Are there any highlights from the Goldman Prize experience you’d like to share with us?
Carlos: The whole experience was incredible—something I never imagined happening. If I had to pick a standout moment, it would be that first phone call when I found out I was a Goldman Prize winner. I was in Fiji, scuba diving, when the Goldman Prize team first tried to reach me. Of course, I missed the call. When I got back to the house, I called them back, and that’s when I found out—I was a Goldman Prize winner. I had heard about the Prize before, but never in a million years did I expect I’d be receiving it.
Goldman Prize: Now, to take a step back to where it all started: the island of Tenerife. You’ve spent a lot of time underwater—can you share how that shaped your journey?
Carlos: At this point, I’ve probably logged over 1,000 hours diving in the Canary Islands, Tenerife specifically. It’s always been a place that moves me. Back when I was working as an engineer, building the motorway on the island, I spent every bit of my free time exploring the ocean. The marine environment In Tenerife is breathtaking, yet it’s not really protected. That realization—that something so beautiful was also so vulnerable—that was my trigger.
Goldman Prize: In 2018, you made a big career shift from civil engineer to marine conservationist and nonprofit leader. What inspired that change, and what advice would you give to others looking to pivot into environmental work?
Carlos: It was one of the biggest changes in my life. I started as an engineer in Tenerife, then moved to England to work on a high-speed rail project. The work was exciting—I was learning so much about engineering and its impact—but I felt empty. I loved building things yet, at the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about climate change and the ocean, my true passion.
During a holiday in Thailand, everything changed. I connected with the New Haven Reef Restoration program, and for the first time, I saw people from different backgrounds all working together to protect the ocean. On that same trip, I was scuba diving, and I saw a whale shark for the first time—this magnificent, awe-inspiring creature—but it was surrounded by pieces of plastic. I knew then that I had to help. I went back to England and quit my job.
If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to anyone struggling with a career pivot, it’s this: check in with your inner child. Think back to when you were young and excited about your future. Would that version of you be happy with who you are today? If the answer is no, then it’s time for a change. Be true to yourself.
Goldman Prize: We understand you founded Innoceana with the initial goal of opposing the construction of the Fonsalía Port. What were some of the key tactics your team used in the campaign?
Carlos: When I was working as an engineer, I was actually building the road that would connect to the port. I kept thinking, “I’m facilitating something that could harm the area I love”—the place where I’d spent countless hours scuba diving. So, when I founded Innoceana, it was clear to me that our headquarters needed to be right there, in that very area. Funny enough, my team now uses the road I once built!
During the campaign, our approach was all about collaboration. We worked closely with the city council, local communities, and various environmental organizations to raise awareness about what was at stake. One of our most effective tactics was using virtual reality to connect people with the ocean. Most locals aren’t scuba divers—they’ve lived in Tenerife all their lives but have never seen what’s beneath the surface. With VR documentaries, we gave them a full 360-degree underwater experience, making the marine ecosystem tangible in a way they’d never imagined.
We also created interactive books for children, complete with underwater videos that introduced them to the seagrass, sea turtles, and marine life in their own backyard. And beyond education, we spent a lot of time lobbying—meeting with mayors and key decision-makers. But, in the end, the most powerful thing was bringing people to the water. When someone actually sees all of the sea turtles, sharks, and whales, they understand—it’s a magical place worth protecting. Seeing it firsthand changes everything.
Goldman Prize: Since its founding in 2018, Innoceana has expanded to have a presence in both the Canary Islands and Costa Rica. What current projects are you and your team working on?
Carlos: One of our biggest projects is coral protection in the Pacific south of Costa Rica, where we’ve been working for seven years. After the area lost 40–60% of its corals due to El Niño three years ago, we partnered with British coral immunologist Caroline Palmer to explore coral restoration using immunology techniques. Just like people reacted differently to COVID-19, corals also have varying resistance to environmental stress. With climate change accelerating, we’re identifying the strongest corals and working to support them.
In the Canary Islands, we’re focusing on seagrass through Los Jardineros del Mar, a program dedicated to planting and restoring seagrass. After years of mapping and studying sea grass in the area, we’ve now moved into the planting stage. This is critical work—and really popular with the public—as seagrass is a major food source for sea turtles.
Goldman Prize: We hear that your next step is creating a marine conservation and education center at the heart of the proposed port site on Tenerife. What is your vision for the new center? Where are you in the process?
Carlos: We’ve had the vision for the center for a long time—we’ve been advocating for it since 2018, when the community first rallied to oppose the port. Two years ago, despite being a small organization, Innoceana secured significant European funding to bring the center to life. Right now, we’re in the conceptualization phase. The center will feature a museum, an ocean school, and an interpretation center where the local community can engage and learn. And, rather than constructing something new, we’re repurposing an old pier, keeping its layout intact. One of the most exciting aspects is that we’re working with conservation groups across Macaronesia, an ecological region that includes the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Ghana, and Senegal, on the project.
Goldman Prize: These are all incredible projects to learn about. Where do you see yourself and Innoceana in the next 10 years?
Carlos: In the next 10 years, I hope to see Innoceana thriving as a sustainable organization. I’ve been extremely involved in every step, but my vision is for Innoceana to expand beyond my leadership, reaching new locations worldwide where marine ecosystems need protection. And I hope to put down some roots and actually rent a house rather than living out of my suitcase!
Beyond Innoceana, I want to inspire young engineers, especially in Spain, to rethink the relationship between construction and environmental protection. Too often, the two are seen as opposing forces, but they don’t have to be. Engineers have the power to implement nature-based solutions that work with the environment, not against it. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that, while nature is easy to destroy, it’s incredibly difficult, expensive, and sometimes impossible to restore.
Goldman Prize: Thank you, Carlos, for your leadership in marine conservation and education on the Canary Islands. We are excited for all that’s ahead for you and your team.
Carlos: Thank you for having me.
