Co-Exist Projects is partnering with Ocean Angel, the Tenerife-based marine conservation initiative founded and led by Michelle Holland, to support its storytelling, fundraising, and organisational growth as it closes in on a milestone years in the making.
“We are thrilled to be working with Coexist Projects and to be recognised as part of the Ocean Hero Programme. This partnership provides an incredible opportunity to share Ocean Angel’s mission with a wider international audience and inspire more people to take action for our oceans,” Michelle Holland said.
Ocean Angel runs regular beach and underwater clean-ups across Tenerife’s coastline and surrounding waters. To date, the initiative has removed 9,004.10 kilograms of marine debris, and is on track to reach 10,000 kilograms by the end of 2026. The organisation started as a single-person effort and has since grown into a standing community operation, with volunteers who joined for one clean-up going on to lead their own, and local dive schools incorporating Ocean Angel’s outings into their regular activities.
“Having already removed thousands of kilograms of marine debris from our local coastline, we are now working towards our goal of removing 10,000 kilograms of ocean trash by the end of 2026. Together with Coexist Projects, we hope to build a growing community of supporters who want to create real, measurable impact for marine conservation,” she added.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Angel
Co-Exist Projects identified Ocean Angel as a strong match for its mission of supporting community-led conservation. The two organisations share a common premise: that individual action, given the right support, can scale well beyond one person or one location. Ocean Angel had the momentum and community backing to prove the model works; what it lacked was the infrastructure to sustain and grow it. The new partnership is designed to close that gap.
The partnership’s ambitions extend beyond Tenerife. By strengthening Ocean Angel’s organisational foundation, Co-Exist Projects aims to help the initiative inspire and support similar efforts in other coastal communities, building a wider network of independent, locally led conservation groups united by a shared mission.
Co-Exist Projects believes that lasting conservation outcomes come from empowering local leaders with the tools, visibility, and resources they need to grow. Through this, Co-Exist Projects and Ocean Angel aim to demonstrate how community-led action can scale into a wider movement to protect coastlines around the world.
