Brazil’s abrolhos marine paradise faces urgent protection crisis despite being south atlantic’s biodiversity hotspot

Off Brazil’s coast, where the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo meet the Atlantic Ocean, lies one of the world’s most extraordinary marine ecosystems—yet it remains dangerously underprotected. The Abrolhos Seascape, spanning an impressive 893,000 square kilometers, harbors some of the South Atlantic’s richest marine biodiversity, but a new comprehensive study reveals alarming gaps in its legal protection.

At the heart of this marine treasure is the Abrolhos Bank, home to the South Atlantic’s largest coral reef system and Brazil’s primary breeding ground for humpback whales. Every year from June to November, these majestic marine mammals migrate to these waters, creating a spectacular natural phenomenon that supports a thriving whale-watching ecotourism industry. The region also sustains traditional fishing communities who have practiced artisanal fishing methods for generations in protected extractive reserves.

Despite its ecological significance, less than 2% of the 46,000-square-kilometer Abrolhos Bank enjoys full protection. The tiny Abrolhos National Marine Park, established in 1983 as Brazil’s first marine conservation area, covers just 882 square kilometers—a fraction of what scientists say needs safeguarding.

The recent study, which mapped biodiversity hotspots across the entire seascape including coral reefs, underwater mountain chains, and oceanic islands, delivers a stark warning: the region’s most biologically rich areas are also its most vulnerable. Without expanded protection measures, this irreplaceable marine heritage—supporting everything from coral ecosystems to whale populations and local livelihoods—faces an uncertain future.