Manuel has more than 30 years of experience working in the Fisheries Sector at the national government and inter-government levels as well as an independent consultant both at the national and international levels. He has a Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of Havana Cuba, a Master’s in Fishery Administration from the University of Bergen, Norway, a Master’s in Environmental Management from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, and other training coursework. His principal focus area for work has been research for several fisheries including shrimp, lobster, shark, snails, and other important species in Central America. Until 2008, he worked at the Nicaraguan Institute of Fishing and Aquaculture as the Director of the Center for Fishery and Aquaculture Research. He has collaborated as an international consultant with the Fishery and Aquaculture Sector Organization of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA), the Central American Integration System, the Western Center for Atlantic Fisheries Organization (COPACO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the American States Organization (OEA) among others. He also has experience as a University Professor where he taught about fisheries at Nicaraguan Universities. Currently, his principal area of focus is arranging and managing the regional fishery for the Spiny Lobster of the Caribbean.