Magie Rodriguez is a lawyer graduated from the University of Costa Rica, with an emphasis in Environmental Law, she is a specialist in marine conservation, trade and environment. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Energy Law and Energy Transition at the Universidad Internacional de la Rioja. With more than eight years of experience, she has been dedicated to the conservation of marine ecosystems through the use of international and national law. Her background includes participation in international treaty negotiations, mainly on issues related to the World Trade Organization’s Fisheries Subsidies Agreement and circular economy.

Although she is a lawyer, she has always been a science buff and working on conservation issues has allowed her to reconcile the two. Working at MarViva allows her not only to learn more every day about the sea, the organisms that inhabit it and its benefits for the surrounding communities, but also to be an active part of the efforts to preserve one of the lungs of the planet.

In her spare time, Magie enjoys painting watercolors, watching TV shows and read science fiction.

Vicente is an engineer in agricultural development, with specialization in administration, project design and sustainable tourism management. He has more than 17 years of experience in the management and coordination of social development projects, microenterprises, and green businesses with national and international organizations.

His work at MarViva has allowed him to be more creative in producing ideas that contribute to the sustainable development of marine and coastal resources, which has allowed him to grow as a professional intrapreneur and social entrepreneur.

Vicente is passionate about working on conservation issues because he believes that if we do not conserve the natural environment, it will have direct effects on our lives. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking in natural areas, and responsible sightings of terrestrial and marine wildlife.

“An informed consumer has power.”

I am a biologist with a degree from the University of Panama, specializing in marine biology and limnology. Since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by nature and enjoyed spending time outdoors with my family and friends. This early connection allowed me to understand the importance of caring for and conserving our natural resources, motivating me to dedicate my professional life to what I am passionate about. In recent years, I have been actively involved in conservation initiatives. I have volunteered at a foundation dedicated to the protection of sea turtles and collaborated with an organization focused on the study and conservation of marine mammals in Panama. In addition, I have worked on data collection for the characterization of fauna and flora, contributing to the creation of biological baselines for environmental impact studies.

I enjoy spending time with my family and doing outdoor activities such as exploring waterfalls, discovering new places, paragliding, and scuba diving. What I value most about my profession is the opportunity to contribute to the care and conservation of coastal marine resources. I like the exchange of knowledge with communities and the mutual learning that comes from each interaction. Being able to contribute in some way to communities is very rewarding. Working at MarViva is an enriching experience, and I am grateful to God for this opportunity. I plan to continue my academic training so that I can continue contributing to conservation.

Ana has more than 15 years of experience working with NGOs in the environmental sector, and private and public sector associations and companies, providing administrative and logistical support for the development of projects with international entities such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union.

At MarViva, in addition to facilitating and assisting with the work of the market management and other teams of the organization, her work has allowed her to put into practice her training as a sociologist through contact with members of coastal communities involved in tourism and fishing, local and national authorities, members of NGOs and representatives of the private sector.

She loves nature and believes that it marks our origin and provides us with life, food, beauty, mystery and adventure. Walking is one of her favorite hobbies, getting to know new places in her country, and going to the beach in the afternoons and enjoying the sound of the waves. Her greatest strength is her family.

“In all things in nature there is something wonderful”. Aristoteles

Felix Fonseca is a professional in social sciences, a student of law (bachelor’s degree) at the Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, with a humanistic and ethical formation, an environmental conscience and great social responsibility.

He has experience in business plans, international cooperation and project development, with three years of experience in working with various community organizations in Costa Rica. He also has teamwork skills, excellent interpersonal relationships and a vision on social and environmental protection and is working in communities with social and environmental problems.

Over the last two years, he has served as the President of an ASADA and as a consultant for community organizations of the Nicoya Peninsula, mainly ADIs and ASADAs.

“The MarViva Foundation has allowed me to develop in a work environment that has taken me to new frontiers of knowledge and learning for a better development in my professional and working life.”

For him, it is important to conserve coastal marine resources because they provide an enormous biological wealth for our planet, and they are also sources of food and livelihood for coastal peoples.

I love coffee, the environment and reading. I like to spend time with family and friends.

Tania is a lawyer with a specialization in maritime sector development and has postgraduate degrees in environmental impact assessment and higher level didactics, and technical training in ecology and project management.

She has more than 15 years of experience in the environmental legal field, both in the nongovernmental sphere and in civil society organizations at the local and international level.

Promoting actions for the improvement of regulations and processes, as well as promoting bridges between the different actors involved in the management of marine and coastal resources is part of her work at MarViva.

Tania is very aware that achieving a better environment and the sustainability of natural resources is a challenge that concerns us all, and she is enthusiastic about MarViva continuing to contribute to the protection of the marine and coastal resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

“Knowing and appreciating what our seas offer us, allows us to value and take responsibility for our environment.”

With a degree in Political Science from the Universidad de Costa Rica, Irene has been part of the MarViva team since 2021.

Her professional experience, both in the public and private spheres, has allowed her to put into practice the two areas she is most passionate about: politics and environmental protection. She believes that environmental management is influenced by the decisions made in the political arena, so it is essential to be able to have an impact there that is in favor of the protection and sustainable use of natural resources.

For Irene, working at MarViva represents a great satisfaction on a personal and professional level. Through her work at the foundation, she hopes to be able to contribute to a better future for the marine resources of the Costa Rican Pacific coast.

She enjoys spending time with her loved ones, traveling and going for walks with her dog Kala.

Pablo is an environmental lawyer and art historian. He obtained both degrees at the University of Costa Rica, where he was awarded the prize for the best grade point average of his career in 2023. He also holds a diploma in cultural heritage from the National

Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico.

With more than five years of experience, he has worked in environmental protection and human rights at the national and international levels, focusing on marine biodiversity, access rights, world heritage, noise pollution, and waste management. His career includes the elaboration of consultancies and legal analysis for States and organizations interested in implementing international standards of environmental protection and human rights, as well as the drafting of articles and technical reports presented to international organizations such as the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) of UNESCO.

From an early age, Pablo showed interest in biology, dedicating his student years to activities and volunteer work oriented to species conservation. In this context, he met MarViva, where now, through his knowledge and experience, he can promote the protection of marine biodiversity and the development of initiatives that guarantee the rights of coastal communities.

In his free time, Pablo enjoys dancing, discovering new music, and visiting museums, combining his passions for culture and diversity.