Ocean Angel has been crowned the winner of the Ocean Beer Grant 2026, securing funding to continue her work protecting the Canary Islands' coastline and marine environment after being selected from three outstanding local conservation organisations. The announcement followed a public vote that saw Ocean Angel compete against fellow finalists Canary Green and Clean Ocean Project.
The annual grant is funded through the sale of Ocean Beer, a purpose-driven lager created by the Ocean Born Foundation. Rather than operating as a traditional commercial beer brand, Ocean Beer donates 100% of its profits directly to marine conservation projects, combining consumer purchases with tangible environmental action.
Since its launch, the initiative has contributed more than €500,000 to ocean protection projects around the world, while supporting local organisations in the regions where the beer is sold.
This year's Canary Islands finalists each represent a different approach to tackling the growing challenges facing the region's marine ecosystems.
Ocean Angel, based in Tenerife, focuses on removing marine litter from beaches and coastal waters while raising public awareness of how ocean trash affects local marine wildlife, inspiring others to do the same. She has built a strong local following by encouraging residents and visitors alike to take an active role in protecting the islands' coastline.
Canary Green has become well known for organising large-scale beach clean-ups across Tenerife alongside sustainability campaigns aimed at reducing plastic waste. The non-profit also works with schools, businesses and local communities to promote long-term environmental responsibility and encourage more sustainable tourism and lifestyles.
Clean Ocean Project, founded in Fuerteventura in 2002, is one of the Canary Islands' longest-established marine conservation organisations. Alongside regular beach clean-ups, it develops educational programmes, campaigns against plastic pollution and supports projects designed to reduce waste before it reaches the sea. Over the past two decades, the organisation has helped remove more than 100,000 kilograms of rubbish from the islands' coastline with the support of thousands of volunteers.
The Ocean Beer Grant places local communities at the heart of the decision-making process, with members of the public voting for the project they believe will deliver the greatest impact.
This year's vote highlighted the growing public interest in protecting the Canary Islands' marine environment, with all three finalists demonstrating the vital work being carried out across the archipelago to combat pollution and preserve fragile coastal ecosystems.
For Ocean Angel, the victory provides additional funding to expand her environmental activities and continue inspiring volunteers to help keep Tenerife's beaches and oceans clean.
While only one organisation could receive the top grant, the competition also shone a spotlight on the outstanding work being undertaken by Canary Green and Clean Ocean Project, reinforcing the message that protecting the Canary Islands' marine environment is a shared responsibility.
With every bottle sold helping to fund conservation projects, Ocean Beer continues to demonstrate that even everyday choices can contribute to healthier oceans, both in the Canary Islands and beyond.
Each Ocean Beer sold contributes directly to ocean protection. Profits generated by the brand are allocated across two complementary funding streams:
1. Marine Protected Areas (50%)
Half of the profits support the development and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), one of the most effective science-based tools for restoring marine ecosystems. Through a partnership with the non-profit Blue Alliance, each Ocean Beer bottle sold protects 210 m² of ocean for one year in some of the world’s most biodiverse and threatened marine regions. The ecological recovery of these areas is monitored and independently evaluated by experts from the CNRS Foundation.
2. Local conservation projects (50%)
The remaining 50% supports local marine conservation initiatives in each territory where Ocean Beer is brewed and sold — sales in the Canary Islands, therefore, help finance the protection of the archipelago's marine ecosystems.
When it comes to selecting beneficiary projects, Ocean Beer gives its community the power to decide: each year, a public vote on social media determines which local organisation receives the funding, ensuring a transparent and community-driven selection process.
