Sofia Gonzalez

Mexican marine biologist restoring coral reefs in the Gulf of California

Sofia Gonzalez is a marine conservationist leading coral reef restoration efforts in Mexico's Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Her organization Corales Vivos has replanted over 50,000 coral fragments since 2015, reversing decades of degradation caused by overfishing and climate change.

Gonzalez pioneered a low-cost coral farming method using recycled plastic frames and local community labor. This approach reduces restoration costs by 70% compared to traditional techniques. Her work has increased fish populations in restoration zones by 200%, directly benefiting 15 coastal communities reliant on fishing.

She developed the first coral health monitoring app used by citizen scientists across the Gulf, collecting data from 300+ dive sites annually. Her research on climate-resilient coral strains was published in Scientific Reports and adopted by restoration projects in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Gonzalez trained as a marine biologist at the National Polytechnic Institute. She was named a National Geographic Explorer in 2020 for her work documenting coral bleaching patterns. Her TEDx talk 'The underwater gardens saving Mexico's coral' has inspired global reef conservation efforts.

Her current focus includes training indigenous Comcaac communities in coral stewardship, ensuring traditional ecological knowledge informs modern conservation strategies. Gonzalez's achievements were featured in National Geographic and Scientific American, positioning her as a leader in community-based marine conservation.