Fundación MarViva

What Fundación MarViva does

Fundación MarViva is a nonprofit foundation founded in 2002 and headquartered in San José, Costa Rica, focused on marine conservation in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. It operates across Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, working on sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas, reduction of illegal fishing, and ocean governance. Its primary beneficiaries and stakeholders are coastal and artisanal fishing communities, national and regional governments, and multilateral policy bodies; the foundation functions as a science-to-policy intermediary that produces applied research and channels it into regulatory and management outcomes.

MarViva's core "products" are research and policy outputs rather than commercial goods. Notable technical assets include a proprietary GIS-based Geoportal housing spatial marine data, more than 400 technical publications, applied research on the Thermal Dome phenomenon, the Save the Blue Five branded initiative, and the MarViva Escucha grievance mechanism. The organization maintains a multidisciplinary in-house team of 51-100 staff spanning marine biology, environmental law, GIS, policy advocacy, and field operations. It also convenes multi-stakeholder platforms that link fishers, governments, NGOs, and the private sector.

The business model is grant-funded philanthropy rather than commercial revenue generation. MarViva secures project-based funding from a concentrated set of institutional donors — including Norad, the European Union, AVINA, and Blue Action Fund — and deploys it across country programs and international policy engagement. In 2025, programmatic investment reached approximately USD 4.8 million. Funding cycles, donor priorities, and OECD aid budgets are the primary drivers of organizational capacity and trajectory.

Name

Fundación MarViva

Legal name

Fundación MarViva

Website

https://marviva.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fundación MarViva is a Costa Rica-headquartered nonprofit foundation, founded in 2002, that promotes marine conservation and sustainable fisheries across Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia through research, policy advocacy, and community engagement with coastal fishing communities and governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Marine conservation services
• Marine spatial planning
• Coastal community development
• Marine plastic pollution
• Sustainable fisheries management

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: MarViva is a nonprofit foundation financed through grants from international development agencies, bilateral donors, foundations, and private sector supporters. In 2025, total investment reached USD 4,793,175, directed toward coastal community strengthening, marine spatial planning, responsible production and consumption of marine products and services, and combating marine plastic pollution in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Fundación MarViva delivers marine conservation outcomes across the Eastern Tropical Pacific through four strategic pillars: (1) Participatory Marine Spatial Planning (PEM), (2) Market Incentives for responsible marine products and services, (3) Combatting Marine Plastic Pollution, and (4) Coastal Community Strengthening. It produces digital knowledge products including the Geoportal, Story Maps, and the 400+ document Biblioteca. The foundation designs and implements conservation programs, supports regulatory frameworks, and builds community capacity across Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.

Product overview

Fundación MarViva is a non-profit foundation (created in 2002) that operates as an integrated marine conservation platform rather than a single product. Its work is organized around four strategic axes: Marine Spatial Planning (PEM), Market Incentives for Marine Conservation, Combatting Marine Plastic Pollution, and Coastal Community Strengthening. The organization maintains operational offices in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, serving the Eastern Tropical Pacific region. Key offerings include the Geoportal for geographic information, the Domo Térmico research initiative, the Biblioteca digital library, and the MarViva Escucha social accountability mechanism. The foundation focuses on evidence-based conservation through scientific research, participatory governance, and sustainable market dynamics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planificación Espacial Marina (PEM) A public and participatory process for multisectoral planning and integrated management of marine and coastal spaces and resources, considering complementary objectives of ecological, economic, and social health and prosperity. Targets governments, fishing sectors, tourism, maritime transport, developers, scientific community, and local communities in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.
• Incentivos de Mercado para la Conservación Marina Promotes sensitization of actors for responsible supply and demand of marine products and services, fostering good practices that reduce human pressure on habitats and ecosystems, supporting responsible fishing and tourism value chains. Targets fishing communities, tourism operators, retailers, and consumers in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
• Combate a la Contaminación Marina por Plásticos Contributes to sensitization of multisectoral actors at regional, national, municipal, commercial, and individual levels, building capacities in solid waste management and promoting regulatory measures and good practices to reduce single-use plastic consumption. Targets governments, commercial actors, and individuals in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.
• Domo Térmico de Costa Rica An oceanographic phenomenon research program focused on the Costa Rica Thermal Dome, a critical biodiversity zone in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, including expeditions, scientific monitoring, and public education about this unique marine habitat. Targets the scientific community, conservation stakeholders, and the general public.
• Geoportal MarViva An online geographic information portal providing access to spatial data, maps, and geographic information related to marine conservation, marine spatial planning, and coastal management in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Targets GIS specialists, researchers, government agencies, and the general public.
• Fortalecimiento Comunitario Costero Community capacity building initiative focused on strengthening coastal communities in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia through training, technical assistance, and support for sustainable local development. Targets fishing communities, indigenous groups, and Afro-descendant communities in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
• MarViva Escucha A grievance mechanism and social accountability system that allows stakeholders to submit suggestions or complaints regarding potential negative impacts from MarViva's initiatives, with response within 6 business days. Targets communities, partners, and stakeholders engaged with MarViva programs.
• Biblioteca MarViva An online library containing over 400 documents including technical reports, scientific publications, infographics, institutional information, and educational materials related to marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and coastal development. Targets researchers, practitioners, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• USD 4,793,175 invested across the Eastern Tropical Pacific in 2025 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.

• TVN (Panamá)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTVN, a major Panamanian television network, provides in-kind media coverage for MarViva's conservation campaigns and outreach activities.
• Quirófano FilmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuirófano Films produces documentary and video content for MarViva's marine conservation awareness campaigns.
• JCDecauxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJCDecaux provides outdoor advertising space in-kind to support MarViva's public awareness campaigns on marine conservation.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNC collaborates with MarViva on marine protected area management, biodiversity conservation, and science-based marine planning in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF works with MarViva on fisheries management, marine ecosystem monitoring, and conservation policy in the region. A former MarViva Science Manager previously worked at WWF.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO engages with MarViva on fisheries science, sustainable fisheries management, and marine resource governance across the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): International environmental NGO combining science, economics, and policy advocacy, with active ocean and fisheries programs in Latin America. Comparable in marine governance advocacy and science-based regulatory engagement.
• WildAid: Marine conservation organization focused on reducing threats to marine wildlife through behavior-change campaigns and fisheries reform. Comparable nonprofit advocacy model with strong media and communications components targeting Latin American fisheries.
• Conservation International: Global environmental NGO with significant marine conservation programs across Latin America, including active partnership with MarViva in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Directly comparable as a similarly mission-driven, donor-funded marine and biodiversity conservation organization.
• Oceana: International ocean conservation advocacy organization focused on sustainable fisheries, IUU fishing, and marine policy reform. Directly comparable mission and donor-funded advocacy model, with overlapping Latin American coastal program interests.
• Fundación Avina: Latin American sustainable development foundation that co-founded MarViva and shares governance overlap (board members Gabriel Baracatt and Sean McKaughan). Directly comparable as a grantmaking and co-investment foundation operating across the region on sustainability and conservation.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy: Major international conservation organization collaborating with MarViva on marine protected area management and biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Comparable in marine spatial planning and community-based conservation models.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global conservation NGO with established fisheries, marine, and coastal programs across Latin America; MarViva staff have moved between the two organizations. Overlaps with MarViva on sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas, and IUU fishing advocacy.
• FAUNA & FLORA INTERNATIONAL: Long-established international conservation NGO with marine and coastal biodiversity programs across Latin America. Comparable as a science-based nonprofit engaged in marine spatial planning, protected area management, and community-based conservation.

Emerging players

• SeaLegacy: Marine conservation nonprofit combining visual storytelling, expeditions, and policy advocacy to protect ocean ecosystems. Comparable mission and donor-funded advocacy model, with overlapping interest in Eastern Tropical Pacific waters.
• Reef Check: International nonprofit focused on coral reef conservation through citizen science and community-based monitoring, with programs in Costa Rica and Panama. Comparable mission and regional overlap in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fundacionmarviva
• Facebookfacebook.com/FundacionMarViva
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundacionmarviva
• Xx.com/Marvivacr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundacionmarviva

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Fundación MarViva