MarViva Foundation: Our world is the ocean

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MARVIVA FOUNDATIONMarViva is a regional, non-profit organization, with

mission to impulse the conservation and sustainable

use of marine and coastal ecosystems in the Eastern

Tropical Pacific, envisioning a biodiverse and healthy

ocean in benefit of present and future generations.

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GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPEThrough a regional structure with local

presence in Costa Rica, Panama, and

Colombia, MarViva Foundation leads

actions to support governments and users

of the natural resources in the conservation

and effective management of marine and

coastal habitats and ecosystems.

Fieldwork is concentrated mainly along the

Pacific in these countries, including their

jurisdictional waters and the adjacent High

Seas.

MarViva also provides technical advice

and cooperation for the reproduction of

successful strategies and experiences in

Central America, South America, and the

Caribbean.

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THE EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC The Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) extends from southern

Mexico to Northern Peru.

It sustains irreplaceable sources of natural heritage,

food, and employment along the Pacific in the Americas,

including a dynamic fishing activity (artisanal, sports,

industrial). According to an IUCN Red List™ study (February

2012), 12% of the marine species in the region are endangered.The ETP encompasses the Costa Rica Dome, preferential

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)

Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) Goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus)

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The ETP encompasses the Costa Rica Dome, preferential site for industrial fishing of tuna, mahi-mahi, and squid. It is a vital feeding habitat for the threatened blue whale, the largest animal in the world, and for the critically endangered leatherback turtle, the planet’s largest sea turtle. The Dome constitutes a key environment for the health of multiple species, such as dolphins, sharks, rays, billfish, and seabirds.

Source: MarViva 2015

MarViva promotes the establishment of an international governance scheme to protect the sustainability of marine resources in the High Seas, as a strategy for protecting the ecological dynamics and associated productive activities in the Central American coastal areas.

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)

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The ETP also includes the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR, in Spanish), around five main islands, all designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their outstanding ecological value: Coco Island, Coiba, Malpelo, Gorgona, and the Archipelago of Galapagos. Marine resources of relevant ecological, commercial, and tourism interest transit within the CMAR, with shared use and responsibility among Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador, such as sharks, pelagic fish, cetaceans, sea turtles, and birds.

Striped marlin (Kajikia audax)

Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini)

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

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Around 5 million people live up to 10 km from the coastline along the CMAR. They depend strongly on marine resources for their wellbeing and source of income. The fisheries statistics of the four countries associated to CMAR report a combined capture of over 480,000 MT per year, 60% of which is exported to the USA, Europe, and Asia, with an estimated annual value of USD$980 million.

The CMAR also supports productive activities related to tourism, shipping and ports.

MarViva promotes initiatives for marine spatial planning and capacity building towards responsible management of marine and coastal habitats and ecosystems, contributing to ocean sustainability in the region.

Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)

Mangrove forest

CHALLENGES

Poverty in coastalareas

Overexploitation ofnatural resources

Illegal fishing

Bycatch of vulnerablespecies

Marine pollution

Climate change

Lack of biological andtechnical information

Sectoral planning

Conflicts betweenhuman uses and the

environment

Incipient marketawareness

Legal gaps

Insecurity

Institutionalweaknesses

Shortage of technicaland financial resources

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STRATEGIC FOCUSEl modelo de trabajo de MarViva aporta enfoque estratégico en:

TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC CAPACITYOur team is comprised of multidisciplinary professionals, including Marine Biologists, Lawyers, Sociologists, Anthropologists, Geographers, Marketers, Communicators, Business Administrators and Project Managers. Integrated through 4 core programs: Policy Advocacy, Science, Sustainable Markets, and Communications, MarViva

• Contributes to strengthened technical capacity of local institutions and managers.

• Fosters opportunities for multi-sectoral, participatory processes to improve the institutional and regulatory framework, with regards to human activities in the ocean.

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• Provides technical and scientific support to diverse stakeholders, including governments, coastal communities, private sector, and decision makers, for the design and implementation of policy and activities towards sustainable development.

• Facilitates the participation of users and managers of marine and coastal resources in the analysis, planning, and decision-making fora for marine spatial planning.

• Promotes the development of responsible tourism and fishing, and market incentives to drive marine conservation and sustainability.

• Supports the management and conservation of mangroves and marine protected areas.

• Strengthens local capabilities and technical skills to enhance the effectiveness of regulations and initiatives towards sustainable markets.

• Encourages the development and implementation of governance schemes for marine and coastal areas, and the High Seas.

• Raises awareness and calls to action multiple audiences and stakeholders.

• Leverages partnerships and collaboration among local and international organizations.

PARTNERSWith annual budget above USD$4 million, MarViva designs and executes initiatives in alliance with key partners, including: national and regional authorities, state institutions, local governments, community based organizations, resource user sectors, technical and scientific experts, media, corporate sector, NGOs, academia, and donors.

Meeting with officers of the Inter-American Development Bank at Hicaco, Veraguas (Panama), where MarViva promotes the consolidation of responsible fishing and consumption of marine products.

Responsible practices of sports fishing are key within the conservation efforts.

Work sessions to support the adoption of the Port State Measures Agreement.

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MARVIVA’S TRACK RECORDSince 2002, MarViva Foundation has contributed to the conservation and sustainability of marine and coastal resources, supporting the implementation of:

• Marine patrolling programs in Costa Rica and Panama.• Scientific research.• Development and consolidation of sustainable productive alterna-

tives.• Management of Marine Protected Areas. • Policy advocacy.• Media advocacy.• Strengthening of institutional and technical capacities.• Participatory and multisectoral processes for the conservation

and management of marine resources.• Marine spatial planning.• Best practices for fishing and coastal and marine tourism.• Promotion of value chains and responsible market processes for

fishing and tourism. • Certification of responsible marine products and services.• Awareness of decision makers, resource users, and consumers.• Legal actions for the protection of marine sustainability.• Promotion of marine governance schemes in jurisdictional waters

and in the High Seas.• Trusts to support the control and surveillance of marine areas in

Costa Rica and Panama.• Multisectoral, interinstitutional, and international coordination.

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- Marine Spatial Planning

• Priority areas under spatial planning schemes (Cos-ta Rica: 676 Km2 in Punta Banco-Punta Burica, 2,494 Km2 in the Gulf of Nicoya, and 5,294 Km2 in the South Pacific; Panama: 941 Km2 in the Gulf of Montijo; Co-lombia: 601 Km2 in Gulf of Tribugá).

• Validated methodology for facilitating multisectoral participatory processes.

• Technical accompaniment for the generation and im-plementation of management plans (Costa Rica: Ma-nagement Plan for Fisheries in Golfo Dulce, Manage-ment Plan for black ark; Panama: management plans for black ark and lobster; Colombia: Management Plan for Integrated Management of the Northern Pacific Coastal Environmental Unit (UAC, in Spanish) at Cho-có, mangrove management plans in Bahía Solano, Ju-radó, and Gulf of Tribugá).

- Promotion of market incentives for ocean conserva-tion and sustainability

• Development of the “Standard of Environmental Respon-sibility for the Commercialization of Marine Fish”, as vo-luntary framework for the responsible demand of marine products.

• Development of responsible fishing value chains, with so-cio-economic incentives for artisanal fishers committed to best practices in the use of the resource.

• Promotion of productive activities with low environmen-tal impact, such as responsible tourism services, including sports fishing and whale watching.

• Technical support for the incorporation of responsible fi-shing criteria in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST), applicable to hotels and restaurants.

• Support to fishers and tourism entrepreneurs to adopt best practices for responsible fishing and tourism.

• Public awareness about the challenges and opportunities for personal contributions towards the protection of the ocean (i.e.: denunciation, responsible consumption, pollu-tion).

ACHIEVEMENTSMarViva Foundation contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in the ETP by supporting the accomplishment of concrete achievements, among others:

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- Institutional Strengthening

• Support for the creation of inter-institutional coordination platforms for marine spaces.• Generation of national and regional databases (legislation, vessel registries).• Strengthening of partnerships among institutions and resource user sectors.• Training of officers (congress representatives, prosecutors, port inspectors and inspectors along commercialization

chains, park rangers, coast guards)• Equipment and financial resources for marine patrolling operations.• Support for the approval and implementation of the Ports State Measures Agreement, to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

- Support in the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and promulgation of new management categories-

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- Generation of laws, decrees and regulations favorable to conservation

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SOME OF OUR PUBLICATIONS

More in: http://www.marviva.net/index.php/es/nuestro-trabajo/publicaciones

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NEXT STEPS• Marine Spatial Planning in the Eastern Tropical Pacific re-

gion.• Incorporation of climate change criteria in the planning and

management of coastal and marine areas.• Multi-sectoral involvement in efforts for the conservation

and sustainability of the sea.• Improvement of participatory local governance schemes,

national and regional.• Strengthening of international and inter-institutional coor-

dination.• Optimization of efforts and investment to address the con-

nectivity between the High Seas and the coastal areas.• Increase of stakeholder awareness for the conservation and

sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.• Consolidation of best practices for marine fishing and ma-

rine and coastal tourism.• Support for the reduction of marine pollution.• Encouragement for the reproduction of successful expe-

riences in marine and coastal areas in Central and South America.

• Strengthening of local organizations.

To support MarViva Foundation: https://donate.marviva.net

+507 317-4350