Unplanned coastal development, dwindling fish stocks, a lack of employment opportunities, and a loss of heritage are among the foremost concerns of coastal community members in Costa Rica. Without different economic approaches that take advantage of the changing business climate affecting these societies, residents will continue to face increased environmental, economic, and social degradation in already poor communities. An innovative solution to these problems is to form partnerships between local fisher folk and tourism operators that develop responsible fishing techniques that conserve marine resources and a direct marketing model to retain profits and reduce both sectors’ carbon footprint. This project is facilitating participatory management of coastal resources among 2 artisanal snapper fishing associations and the region’s tourism industry by developing a local niche market for sustainably caught fish. The catch will be sold via a fisheries co-op to hotels and restaurants in neighboring resort communities, thereby taking advantage of the growing demand for local, sustainably caught fish among environmentally conscious visitors to Costa Rica. The project is currently being evaluated for a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) international certification. At the present time there are no MSC certified small scale fisheries in Central America and the Caribbean. If successful, the model will be replicated in other coastal fishing communities in the region.