Photo: Andreia Lopes

The Arraial do Cabo region is socio-environmentally strategic due to its coastal oceanographic and geomorphological characteristics and upwelling of nutrient-rich deep water. This phenomenon is a boon to fish stocks and so to fisheries, as the nutrients sustain flourishing marine biodiversity.  In addition to fishing, the area is also an important tourist destination

“The  Rocky Shore—Data for the Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve Management Plan” aims to study the reef system at the unit and its interrelations with human activities in order to set priority management targets and sensitize society to the importance of using marine resources sustainably and of sticking to the National Action Plan for Coral Coasts.

Among the main activities are visual subaquatic censuses to estimate the abundance of reef-fish species, analyze trophic interactions between fish and fish prey through dietary and genetic analyses, garner telemetry on endangered catch species, all with a view to better understanding fish movements and habitat use. In conjunction with interviews with fishermen, this data will inform the selection and implantation of no-take zones.

The results will be presented through environmental education actions designed to instill an understanding of the ecological importance of rocky shores and encourage the adoption of the best management practices.

The project is funded through a Consent Decree/Conduct Adjustment Agreement between Chevron Brazil and the Federal Public Prosecutors’ Office, brokered by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) and the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), and financially managed by Funbio.