The San Fernando Reserve Zone is one of the most scenic landscapes of Peru, protecting the habitat of the Andean Condor, the Humboldt Penguin and the Guanaco, shaping a special conservation corridor that unites the coast with the Andes. Investigations made by a team from the Museum of Natural History of Natural Science of the University of San Marcos resulted in the discovery of previously unknown species. Based on these technical studies, the San Fernando area was proposed for designation as a National Reserve by a government commission as this category allows the sustainable use of natural resources. This was particularly important to recognize fishermen rights and also because since 2008, San Fernando has been a key area for macroalgae harvesting. Many local fishermen have begun to focus their activities on macroalgae harvesting, as their prices have increased considerably as a result of the increase in demand from the alginate industry. Local fishermen were initially against this declaration because they thought that they would be prohibited access and fishing in the National Reserve, based upon previous experiences. Precedents include Punta San Juan Reserve, a cape that belongs to the System of Guano Islands, and Capes National Reserve, which has been protected for more than a century and where fishing is not allowed. Thanks to the fact that the reserve categorization process took place in a participatory way, national protected area officials had the opportunity to clarify that current resource use activities in San Fernando would be respected. Resource Use Zones were assigned and the Fishermen’s Union defined which collectives would use and take care of each of the areas. Today, fishermen are part of the Management Committee, and although not everything is ideal and tensions still exist, there is now a way of dealing with issues through dialogue. Little by little, the fishermen start to look at the protected natural areas with new eyes. They see it as an opportunity to regulate the area and that it is not just five marine miles where there are no rules. They themselves are the ones who slowed migration from the Peruvian highlands and the resulting uncontrolled and illegal marine macroalgae harvesting activities, by defining an area where each collective depends economically on marine resources, thus ensuring that the area maintains its productivity.