Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines

Name

Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines

Legal name

Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines Inc.

Website

https://lamave.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Marine conservation research
• Marine megafauna protection
• Citizen science programs
• Wildlife stranding response
• Conservation education outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Puerto Princesa City

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: LAMAVE operates as a non-profit NGO funded primarily through donations from individuals and grants from foundations and organizations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LAMAVE is the largest independent non-profit NGO in the Philippines dedicated to marine megafauna research and conservation. It runs species-specific research programs on whale sharks, sea turtles, sharks, and rays using non-invasive methods such as photo identification, acoustic telemetry, satellite tagging, and BRUVS, and complements this science with stranding response training, by-catch assessment, community outreach, the Iskolar ng Dagat internship program, Expedition Shark research trips, citizen science, and the Manta Ray Adoption Program.

Product overview

Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) is a non-profit marine conservation organization that operates multiple research and conservation programs rather than a commercial product/platform. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including: Whale Shark Research & Conservation, Turtle Research & Conservation, Shark Research, Rays/Manta Research, Rapid By-catch Assessment, Stranding & Rescue Response, Outreach, Impact Media campaigns, and the Iskolar ng Dagat internship program. Additional offerings include Expedition Shark research trips, Citizen Science initiatives, and the Manta Ray Adoption Program. These programs work together to advance marine megafauna conservation in the Philippines through scientific research, community engagement, education, and media advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whale Shark Research & Conservation Research program studying whale shark population, behavior, movements, and tourism impacts across multiple Philippine sites using photo identification, satellite tagging, and acoustic telemetry methods. The program has identified 1,400+ whale sharks and contributed to the recognition of the Philippines as hosting the second-largest known population of whale sharks in the world.
• Turtle Research & Conservation Program focused on green turtle and hawksbill turtle population monitoring, nesting surveys, and behavioral studies using photo identification at Apo Island and other Philippine locations.
• Shark Research Studies shark species including grey reef sharks and tiger sharks in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and other locations, using acoustic and satellite tagging methods. Includes the Expedition Shark program with five completed research trips to Tubbataha and the first tiger shark tagged in the Coral Triangle in 2016.
• Rays Research & Conservation Focuses on manta ray populations including Mobula alfredi and Mobula birostris, identifying hotspots and studying movements through photo identification and acoustic monitoring. The program underpins the Manta Ray Adoption Program.
• Rapid By-catch Assessment Assesses incidental catch of marine megafauna in Philippine fisheries to inform conservation strategies and policy recommendations on by-catch mitigation.
• Stranding & Rescue Response Trains municipalities across 100+ localities in marine wildlife stranding response to enhance local capacity for marine animal rescue and rehabilitation in the Philippines.
• Outreach Program Engages local communities through educational activities and awareness campaigns on marine conservation and sustainable wildlife tourism, reaching 10,000+ students across the Philippines.
• Impact Media Produces documentary films and impact campaigns including 'Iyo Ang Dagat' (The Sea is Yours) to raise awareness about marine conservation and promote sustainable marine wildlife tourism; awarded a 2025 Jackson Wild Earth Alliance Impact Grant of $15,000.
• Iskolar ng Dagat (LAMAVE Scholars) Sponsored internship program for Filipino citizens providing students with field experience in marine conservation research; has trained 25+ scholars in scientific research methods.
• Expedition Shark Liveaboard research expeditions to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park providing conservation-minded divers the opportunity to participate in shark research activities, hosted via the Solitude One liveaboard.
• Citizen Science Engages the public in collecting data on marine megafauna through photo submissions and reporting of marine wildlife sightings and strandings.
• Manta Ray Adoption Program Allows supporters to symbolically adopt individual manta rays to fund conservation research and receive updates on adopted individuals identified through LAMAVE's photo identification catalogue.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ scientific papers published in high impact journals demonstrating research credibility
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Geographic SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2022National Geographic Society partnered with LAMAVE for the 2022 STEM Field Assistant Program, with LAMAVE serving as one of the mentors to inspire ocean conservation leaders of tomorrow. LAMAVE also partners with National Geographic for deep-sea expeditions to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
• Tubbataha Management Office (TMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between LAMAVE and TMO to study sharks of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, including tiger shark and grey reef shark tagging expeditions using acoustic and satellite tags. LAMAVE has conducted 5 Expedition Shark research trips to Tubbataha.
• Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partner for shark and whale shark studies. MMF collaborated with LAMAVE on satellite tagging whale sharks for the global study on sharks under threat from fisheries published in Nature.
• WWF-PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAMAVE and WWF-Philippines set up an acoustic network to study shark and ray movements and habits in Cagayancillo, Palawan, supporting zoning of Marine Protected Areas. LAMAVE researchers also collaborated with WWF-Philippines on whale shark genetics research.
• Solitude One (Liveaboard)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSolitude One liveaboard company hosts LAMAVE researchers and the public on exclusive research expeditions to Cagayancillo. Solitude One donates 10% of each package sold to support LAMAVE's research.
• University of PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Ocean Giants Trust to offer exciting opportunities for marine biology students. LAMAVE serves as a research-based NGO partner for the Ocean Giants Programme, hosting student placements.
• XDEEPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerXDEEP added LAMAVE to their Exploration Support Program, providing state-of-the-art BCD equipment including NX Series Harness and NX Series Ultralight Harness to support LAMAVE's diving research activities.
• Jackson Wild Earth AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIyo Ang Dagat documentary was selected as finalist for Jackson Wild X Earth Alliance Impact Pitch at Jackson Wild Summit, winning $15,000 in impact funding to expand the impact campaign in Palawan.
• Mote Marine Laboratory & AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAMAVE participates in Global FinPrint Phase 2, a collaborative project updating the seminal shark survey and applying findings to design of new marine protected areas worldwide.
• University of VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research with University of Victoria (Canada) on whale shark studies, including the study on crowding and tourist expectations at Oslob whale shark watching destination published in Marine Ecology.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Tubbataha Management Office (TMO): Government partner managing Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park; comparable as a Philippine marine protected area steward where LAMAVE conducts the Expedition Shark program.

Direct peers

• Shark Research Institute: Global NGO focused on shark and ray research and conservation; directly comparable in its use of tagging, photo-ID, and policy advocacy for elasmobranch species.
• Save Our Seas Foundation: Foundation funding and operating marine research on sharks and rays globally; supports LAMAVE's women's leadership program and shares focus on juvenile/elasmobranch conservation.
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Research lab partner in Global FinPrint Phase 2; conducts comparable shark and ray field research using BRUVS and acoustic/satellite tagging, producing scientific publications in high-impact journals.
• WWF-Philippines: Direct peer/partner - runs the Cagayancillo acoustic network with LAMAVE and conducts whale shark genetics research; comparable marine conservation work in the Philippines targeting sharks, rays, and whale sharks.
• Physeter (whale research NGO): Independent marine research NGO focused on cetaceans; similar profile (small independent org, grant funded, photo-ID research) but focused on whales rather than sharks/rays/turtles.
• Marine Megafauna Foundation: Direct peer - a marine NGO focused on large marine vertebrates (especially manta rays and whale sharks) with which LAMAVE has co-authored research including a Nature paper on sharks under threat from fisheries.

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International Philippines: Larger global conservation organization with Philippines operations; comparable in marine conservation mission but broader mandate spanning climate, biodiversity, and policy advocacy.
• Oceana Philippines: Larger marine advocacy organization active in the Philippines; comparable marine conservation mandate with policy and fisheries engagement that touches on LAMAVE's by-catch and protected area work.

Regional players

• Reef Check Philippines: Philippines-based marine conservation NGO operating citizen science reef monitoring programs; overlaps with LAMAVE in volunteer engagement and marine megafauna ecosystem monitoring.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lamaveresearch
• Instagraminstagram.com/lamave_ph
• Xx.com/lamaveresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lamaveresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines