Conservation incentive agreements are negotiated contracts by which resource users forego destructive activities in exchange for benefits provided by conservation investors based on conservation performance. Although this tool is increasingly used in terrestrial settings, applications in marine contexts have yet to receive systematic review. We examine nine conservation incentive agreements to assess performance of the approach in different marine contexts. Data were collected from secondary sources, in-country collaborators, and site visits. The incentive agreements analyzed in this study were implemented under a variety of conditions, with different goals, and different designs. The case studies were from Mexico, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Tanzania, Palau, Ecuador. Case studies were analyzed with respect to implementation effectiveness and conservation results, and generated recommendations to inform project design and implementation.