MarViva Foundation and Moody's Foundation Join Efforts to Promote Economic Development in Coastal Communities
- Initiative will benefit 110 artisanal fisher families in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica
- Digital tool will allow direct placement of their responsible fishing products, as strategy for the sector’s economic recovery
San José, Costa Rica, December 9th 2020 /3BL Media/ - MarViva Foundation and Moody's Foundation formalized an agreement to support economic recovery in fishing communities through technological innovation for the commercialization of marine fish.
The project “Environmental and social sustainability for integral development of artisanal fisheries in Costa Rica” will benefit 110 families in the Gulf of Nicoya and Puntarenas, affected by the global emergency generated by COVID-19 pandemic.
“Artisanal fishing is the main means of livelihood in these communities. The disruption of market dynamics caused by the pandemic has severely affected their source of income due to the partial or total closure of their traditional clients, including local restaurants, hotels, and distributors. This project will promote an alternative business model for direct commercialization of the product to new market niches through an e-commerce platform connecting the fishers with the end consumer in Puntarenas, Guanacaste and the Greater Metropolitan Area,” said Hellen Arroyo, Responsible Markets Manager at MarViva Foundation.
Innovative approach
The beneficiary artisanal fishers and receiving centers guarantee fishing best that reduce human impact on the ecosystem, including the use of selective gear, respect for the species’ minimum maturity size and legal fishing grounds, the capture of non-vulnerable species, and compliance with closure seasons. All these practices are monitored through MarViva’s traceability system.
"With the arrival of COVID-19, our commercial market dropped by almost 100% and for that reason we had to start placing our product through home deliveries, a new business method for us. This platform will help us strengthen sales since in these emergency moments we have had to adapt to change and reinvent ourselves in terms of sales and deliveries," said Manrique Álvarez, owner of Camapez (receiving center) in Costa Pájaros.
By means of a new platform to sell the fishing product and MarViva’s traceability system, buyers will be informed of the product’s origin, environmental responsibility criteria, and handling conditions, in support of responsible market dynamics.
“As a Costa Rican and Moody’s employee, I am excited to launch our partnership with MarViva,” said Adriana Hernández Herrera, VP - Head of MSC Costa Rica. “Together, we will support several artisanal fishing organizations and help improve the livelihoods of more than a hundred families living in poverty by incorporating responsible fishing practices, a new business model, and e-commerce tool that will promote sustainable fishing and market practices.”
The project is part of awareness generation initiatives promoted by MarViva, towards informed purchasing decisions and the artisanal fishers’ access to market incentives for consolidation of the responsible use of marine and coastal resources.
Contact information:
Jordan Brueckner, Communications
