FAICO Amigos Isla del Coco

What FAICO Amigos Isla del Coco does

FAICO (Fundación Amigos de la Isla del Coco) is a Costa Rican non-governmental organization founded in 1994 to channel human, technical, and financial resources toward effective management of the Coco Marine Conservation Area (ACMC) and surrounding ecosystems of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The organization functions as a dedicated conservation implementer for a single UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated 1997) and RAMSAR wetland, supporting Costa Rican government agencies including SINAC, INCOPESCA, MOPT, and the Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas through project execution, capacity building, and scientific collaboration.

The organization's core offerings include marine conservation programs (shark research, climate change training, maritime surveillance capacity building), an interactive Geoportal for spatial data access, the EarthRanger-OFISH platform for systematizing patrol actions, the 'Mi Isla del Coco' virtual reality educational experience, scientific publications, and specialized training workshops. Its technology stack is anchored by the EarthRanger-OFISH platform (technology partnership) and the INCOPESCA SIPEXI fisheries data system, into which FAICO has digitized more than 28,000 data entries. Research collaborations include UCR-CIMAR (academic) and Schmidt Ocean Institute (Falkor too vessel).

FAICO operates a non-profit revenue model funded through three primary streams: individual and corporate donations (with named corporate partners including Cuestamoras, SC Johnson Foods, and Automercado); project-based grants from international funders including the Blue Action Fund, the US Government, and Global Affairs Canada; and strategic partnerships with NGOs such as Fundación MarViva (which serves as fund manager for Blue Action Fund projects implemented by FAICO) and WildAid (capacity building). The organization employs 9 staff at its San José headquarters and conducts operations primarily within Costa Rica, with regional collaboration extending into Mexico and Peru through WildAid-led enforcement projects.

Name

FAICO Amigos Isla del Coco

Legal name

Fundación Amigos de la Isla del Coco

Website

https://cocosisland.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FAICO is a Costa Rican non-profit founded in 1994 that supports management of the Coco Marine Conservation Area by executing conservation programs, digitizing fisheries data, training maritime enforcement personnel, and operating a Geoportal, funded through donations and international grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPADALAI

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

Keywords

• Marine conservation
• Marine protected area management
• Fisheries data digitization
• Maritime law enforcement training
• Environmental NGO

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: FAICO operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional donors who support marine conservation efforts at Cocos Island.
2. Project-Based Funding: Implementation of conservation projects funded by international donors, foundations, and government agencies such as the US Government, Blue Action Fund, and Global Affairs Canada.
3. Donor Support: Regular donor support from corporate partners including Cuestamoras, SC Johnson Foods, and Automercado.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FAICO is a non-governmental organization that channels human, technical, and financial resources to support effective management of the Coco Marine Conservation Area and surrounding ecosystems in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Its offerings include marine conservation programs (shark research, climate change adaptation, fisheries data digitization), capacity-building training for maritime law enforcement, scientific publications, an interactive Geoportal, and the "Mi Isla del Coco" immersive virtual reality experience.

Product overview

FAICO (Amigos de la Isla del Coco) is a non-profit marine conservation organization founded in 1994, operating as a single integrated organization rather than a platform-with-modules structure. The organization's offerings consist of marine conservation programs focused on the Coco Marine Conservation Area, supported by a Geoportal for spatial data access, virtual reality education experiences (Mi Isla del Coco), newsletters, publications, and specialized training programs for climate change adaptation and maritime law enforcement. These components work together to advance FAICO's mission of effective management and conservation of Cocos Island's marine ecosystems and migratory species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marine Conservation Programs and Projects Integrated portfolio of programs and projects focused on effective management of the Coco Marine Conservation Area and surrounding ecosystems, including shark research, climate change training, fisheries data digitization, and maritime surveillance capacity building for the Coco Marine Conservation Area and adjacent marine zones in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
• Geoportal

Quantifiable outcome

• Processed more than 28,000 fisheries data entries for INCOPESCA
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fundación MarVivacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Strategic partnership for marine conservation projects including climate change training and the Marine Conservation and Sustainable Coastal Development Project. MarViva serves as fund manager for Blue Action Fund projects implemented by FAICO.
• UCR-CIMAR (Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with the University of Costa Rica's marine research center for scientific collaboration, research support, and climate adaptation planning for the Coco Marine Conservation Area.
• WildAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint capacity building initiatives for maritime law enforcement, including training workshops on vessel operations, maritime interdiction, crisis management, and law enforcement. Part of Blue Action Fund and US Department of State funded projects.
• SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner for management of the Coco Marine Conservation Area (ACMC). FAICO supports SINAC's conservation and enforcement activities.
• INCOPESCA (Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuicultura)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for fisheries data digitization and sustainable fisheries management support. FAICO assisted in digitizing 28,550 longline fishing data entries.
• Schmidt Ocean InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided research vessel (Falkor too) for oceanographic expeditions that contributed to batymetric naming initiatives in Costa Rica's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• National Geographic Pristine Seas: Pristine Seas combines exploration, scientific research, and policy advocacy to establish marine protected areas. Overlaps with FAICO in marine conservation science, expedition-based research, and MPA establishment in remote island ecosystems.
• SeaLegacy: SeaLegacy is an ocean conservation nonprofit that combines storytelling and expeditions to drive marine protected area creation and awareness. It overlaps with FAICO on public engagement and MPA advocacy, though with a much more media-led model.

Broad incumbents

• WWF (World Wildlife Fund): WWF operates one of the largest global conservation portfolios, with marine programs active throughout Latin America. It is comparable to FAICO in addressing overfishing, marine protected areas, and ecosystem-based management, though at substantially larger scale.
• The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy operates one of the largest global marine conservation portfolios, including Latin America programs. It is comparable in its focus on long-term MPA management, government partnerships, and data-driven conservation outcomes, though at significantly broader scale than FAICO.
• Conservation International: Conservation International is a major global conservation NGO with significant marine programs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. While operating at far greater scale and geographic breadth, it works on overlapping marine protected area management, blue economy, and capacity building themes comparable to FAICO's mission.
• Oceana: Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization focused exclusively on ocean conservation. While primarily an advocacy and policy organization rather than an MPA operator, it overlaps thematically with FAICO on fisheries management, marine protected areas, and Eastern Tropical Pacific conservation priorities.

Direct peers

• WildAid: WildAid is a marine conservation NGO that partners directly with FAICO on maritime law enforcement capacity building in Costa Rica. It operates a similar model - partnering with governments to combat illegal fishing and protect marine ecosystems - making it directly comparable in mission and operating model.
• Fundación MarViva: MarViva is a regional marine conservation foundation active in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia). It serves as fund manager for Blue Action Fund projects implemented by FAICO, making it a closely aligned peer in marine conservation programming and donor management in the same geography.
• Marine Conservation Institute: Marine Conservation Institute focuses on establishing and strengthening marine protected areas globally, particularly through data-driven tools like the Atlas of Marine Protection. It overlaps with FAICO's data infrastructure approach to MPA management and policy advocacy.
• Blue Marine Foundation: Blue Marine Foundation is a marine-focused NGO that supports creation and management of marine protected areas globally. Its mission and operating model of partnering with local organizations and government agencies closely mirrors FAICO's approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FAICOCostaRica
• Facebookfacebook.com/isladelcoco.faico
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faico-amigos-isla-del-coco
• Instagraminstagram.com/isladelcoco.faico

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about FAICO Amigos Isla del Coco