From Engineer to Ocean Advocate: Carlos Mallo's Journey with Innoceana
Release Date: 01/08/2025
The World Just Promised Billions, But Will the Ocean Benefit?
How To Protect The Ocean
The world just pledged more than $6.4 billion for ocean conservation at the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, but history tells us that big announcements do not always lead to meaningful action. In this episode, we unpack what was actually announced, who made the commitments, and why the headline number is only part of the story. You’ll learn why this year’s conference in Kenya was especially significant and what makes these commitments different from legally binding agreements. We also explore the question that rarely gets asked: how do we know whether these promises will ever become real...
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What Dead Seabirds Are Trying to Tell Us About the Pacific Ocean
How To Protect The Ocean
Thousands of seabirds are washing ashore along California’s coast, starving, exhausted, and unable to find enough food. While the images are heartbreaking, scientists say the birds are only the visible symptom of a much larger problem unfolding beneath the surface. In this episode, we explore why seabirds are dying and what their struggle reveals about the health of the Pacific Ocean. You’ll learn how marine heat waves are disrupting one of the world’s most productive ocean ecosystems by reducing nutrients, shrinking fish populations, and breaking apart the marine food web. We also look...
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Who Really Decides Canada’s Climate Future?
How To Protect The Ocean
Canada has admitted it is no longer on track to meet its 2030 climate targets, but the reasons go far beyond domestic politics. In this episode, we explore how changing economic priorities are reshaping Canada’s approach to climate action. The surprising twist is that many of these changes begin outside Canada’s borders. New U.S. tariffs and shifting trade policies are putting pressure on Canada’s economy, forcing leaders to rethink where to invest and what to prioritize. As economic policy changes, climate policy often changes with it. We follow that chain of events to understand why...
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The Hidden Ocean World Most of Us Will Never See
How To Protect The Ocean
Most of us will never visit the deep ocean, yet it covers the majority of our planet and supports life in ways we’re only beginning to understand. In this episode, Andrew Lewin wraps up the Surfacing Secrets series with Ocean Networks Canada by exploring why the deep sea remains one of Earth’s greatest frontiers. You’ll discover how scientists are uncovering hidden ecosystems that could reshape our understanding of the ocean. Andrew is joined by Monica Peltz of Ocean Networks Canada and Heidi Gartner from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to discuss what it takes to study places thousands of...
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What We Don’t Know About the Ocean Could Cost Us Everything
How To Protect The Ocean
How do you protect something you barely understand? In this episode, we explore why ocean exploration is much more than discovering strange creatures or mapping the seafloor. Every marine protected area, conservation plan, and fisheries decision begins with one essential ingredient: knowledge. You’ll discover how scientists collect the information that guides conservation, from mapping underwater canyons to identifying coral gardens and sponge reefs that most people will never see. We also look at what happens when important ecosystems are damaged before we even know they exist, and why...
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How Do Scientists Explore a Place Humans Can’t Survive?
How To Protect The Ocean
The deep ocean is one of the most extreme places on Earth. Crushing pressure, freezing temperatures, and total darkness make it impossible for humans to explore for long, yet scientists continue to make incredible discoveries thousands of meters below the surface. So how do they do it? In this episode, you’ll discover the remarkable technology that makes deep sea exploration possible. From remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater robots to multibeam sonar, artificial intelligence, and environmental DNA, these tools are transforming how we study one of the least explored parts of...
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The Deep Sea Isn’t Barren, Here’s Why That Changes Everything
How To Protect The Ocean
Most people picture the deep sea as a dark, empty place where almost nothing can survive. The truth is far more surprising. Thousands of meters below the surface lives an extraordinary world filled with ancient corals, giant sponges, glowing jellyfish, strange fish, and species that scientists are still discovering today. In this episode, you’ll learn how life has adapted to crushing pressure, freezing temperatures, and complete darkness. You’ll also discover why deep-sea ecosystems are some of the most important habitats on Earth, supporting biodiversity, fisheries, and even helping us...
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We’ve Explored Space Better Than Our Own Ocean, How Is That Possible?
How To Protect The Ocean
How can we know more about the Moon and Mars than the bottom of our own ocean? It sounds impossible, but it is true. In this episode, we begin a special series on deep ocean exploration by uncovering why so much of our planet remains a mystery and why that matters more than ever. The deep ocean plays a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate, supporting marine life, and helping sustain the ecosystems we depend on every day. Yet scientists have only explored a tiny fraction of it because of crushing pressure, complete darkness, and the enormous scale of the seafloor. You’ll discover why...
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What Happens to Ocean Science During a War?
How To Protect The Ocean
What happens to marine conservation when a humanitarian crisis unfolds? In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we explore the remarkable story of marine scientist Mohammed Abu Daya, whose work studying endangered giant devil rays has continued despite the immense challenges of living and working in Gaza. His story reminds us that conservation is ultimately about people as much as it is about wildlife. You’ll learn why giant devil rays are among the Mediterranean’s most vulnerable species, why scientists still know so little about them, and how local research can shape global...
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The Return of Mangroves Should Give You Hope
How To Protect The Ocean
For years, mangrove forests were seen as one of the world’s fastest disappearing coastal ecosystems. Cleared for development, shrimp farming, and agriculture, these unique forests seemed locked in a steady decline. But a new global study tells a much more hopeful story. Researchers have found that mangroves are recovering in many parts of the world, offering one of the most encouraging conservation success stories in recent years. In this episode, I break down why mangroves are so important for the health of our oceans and the people who depend on them. You’ll learn how these coastal...
info_outlineIn this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin interviews Carlos Mallo, the founder and CEO of Innoceana, an innovative marine conservation organization. Carlos shares his journey from being an engineer to a marine conservationist, highlighting the pivotal moments that led him to launch Innoceana.
Carlos grew up in Spain, surrounded by the ocean, which instilled in him a deep love for marine environments. He initially pursued a career in engineering, focusing on construction projects related to harbors and marinas. However, after a transformative trip to Thailand, where he volunteered at a marine conservation center, Carlos realized he wanted to dedicate his life to ocean conservation. This experience ignited his passion and prompted him to leave his stable engineering job.
Upon returning to Spain, Carlos faced the challenge of starting a non-profit organization without a clear plan. Encouraged by a contact from the Ministry of Environment, he gathered friends and family to help establish Innoceana. With limited resources, he relied on his savings and small grants to fund the organization in its early years.
Carlos's engineering background played a crucial role in shaping Innoceana's approach. He identified a gap in the conservation field where engineers could contribute significantly, particularly in assessing environmental conditions and developing innovative solutions. His first project involved collaborating with local dive centers in Thailand to measure water quality, which laid the groundwork for future initiatives.
Innoceana has since expanded its reach, focusing on community engagement and capacity building. Carlos emphasizes the importance of working with local communities to empower them in marine conservation efforts. The organization has launched various projects, including coral restoration, whale monitoring, and plastic cleanup initiatives, while also establishing a marine conservation center in the Canary Islands.
Overall, Carlos Mallo's journey illustrates the power of passion, innovation, and community collaboration in driving marine conservation efforts through Innoceana.
Website: https://innoceana.org/
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