Abrolhos Hope Spot New Champion Designation Highlights Brazil’s Marine Biodiversity

October 16, 2025

[ABROLHOS, BRAZIL] – International marine conservation nonprofit Mission Blue is proud to announce new Champions for our Abrolhos Hope Spot. Danieli Marinho Nobre, Senior Conservation Analyst at WWF-Brazil, and Guilherme Fraga Dutra, Executive Secretary of Abrolhos Forever (Abrolhos para Sempre), have been at the forefront of safeguarding this globally significant marine area, working together to catalyze Abrolhos Forever, a conservation collective to protect the region.

“I’m delighted to share wonderful news about one of the most extraordinary places in the ocean, Abrolhos, a Hope Spot that truly lives up to its name,” said Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue. “That’s why the creation of the Abrolhos Forever Coalition makes such a vital step in terms of making a difference. The Hope Spot Champions, along with the coalition, are working to catalyze action to build partnerships and of course to ensure that the Abrolhos continues to thrive as a beacon of hope.”

 

The Abrolhos Region, stretching between the Brazilian states of Bahia and Espírito Santo, is one of the major centers of marine biodiversity for the South Atlantic Ocean. Spanning 56,000 km², the region harbors Brazil’s largest coral reef system, vast mangroves, deep and shallow reefs, and the world’s largest continuous rhodolith beds—underwater forests of calcified algae that store carbon and sustain marine life.

Abrolhos is home to the largest coral reef system in Brazil. Its ecosystems harbor countless species found nowhere else on Earth, and serve as critical breeding and nursery habitats for fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and crustaceans. Every year between June and October, thousands of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate to the warm, sheltered waters of Abrolhos to breed and calve, creating one of the most important whale sanctuaries in the Atlantic Ocean.

Danieli Marinho Nobre shares, “Abrolhos harbors the greatest marine biodiversity and the largest coral reefs in the South Atlantic, as well as the world’s largest bank of calcareous algae. It is also home to a rich social and cultural diversity that supports climate resilience and territorial protection, as well as the main breeding ground for humpback whales along the Brazilian coast — a spectacular natural event that draws more visitors every year.”

At the core of this seascape lies the Abrolhos Marine National Park (AMNP), created in 1983 as Brazil’s first marine national park. Josângela Jesus, AMNP Manager, says: “The Abrolhos Marine National Park plays a key role in the conservation of the Abrolhos Region. The efforts made by the park’s management authority, ICMBio, in partnership with local organizations and social actors, to generate knowledge and monitor biodiversity, promote responsible visitation, foster environmental education, and ensure protection of the area itself, are examples we hope to see replicated in other protected areas of the region.”

 

Though its 880 km² area offers vital protection, it protects only a small fraction of the ecosystems encompassed by the Hope Spot. Unique features such as mesophotic reefs, the “Chapeirões” mushroom-shaped pinnacles, the “Buracas” dome-like depressions, and the extensive rhodolith banks remain largely unprotected despite their ecological importance. For traditional coastal communities, sustainable-use extractive reserves such as Corumbau, Cassurubá, and Canavieiras represent models of balance, where conservation strengthens livelihoods rather than competing with them. These areas are described as a “savings account for the future,” safeguarding natural wealth for future generations.

Artisanal fishing and community-based tourism activities such as whale watching and diving sustain hundreds of families and act as cornerstones of local economies. By protecting the ecological foundation of Abrolhos, these practices can enrich both culture and economy while protecting biodiversity. 

“To maintain the biodiversity of the Abrolhos Region and to improve the livelihood of its local communities in the long-term, it is key to expand its marine protected areas and implement other conservation measures to avoid the expansion of activities such as oil and gas, mining or industrial fisheries over the fragile and unique ecosystems of the region. And we also need to consider the cumulative effects of climate change over marine life, to make the Abrolhos protected areas network resilient in the long-term,” adds Guilherme Fraga Dutra, executive secretary of the Abrolhos Forever collective.

The support of the Brazilian Government is critical for the designation of official protection of the Hope Spot, as they are responsible for the creation and management of marine protected areas. “Abrolhos is a living symbol of Bahia’s deep connection with the ocean. The State of Bahia is proud to help protect this extraordinary region through its network of marine protected areas, which safeguard mangroves, coral reefs, and coastal ecosystems that sustain traditional communities and local economies. For us, conserving Abrolhos means protecting life, culture, and the future. By joining efforts through this Hope Spot, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that marine biodiversity and community well-being advance together — so that the ocean remains a source of resilience and hope for generations to come” says Luiz Carlos de Araújo Junior, Superintendent of Environmental Policies and Planning of the Bahia State Government.

Still, the region faces real challenges. Overfishing and rapid coastal development have degraded habitats, while pollution and climate-driven coral bleaching events have stressed fragile reefs. In addition, industrial pressures from port expansion, oil and gas development, and mining loom. Local protections are fragile, as the recent removal of the Abrolhos Marine National Park’s buffer zone has left ecologically critical areas vulnerable.

By shining a global spotlight on Abrolhos, the Mission Blue Hope Spot designation underscores the strategic role this region plays in climate stability, biodiversity conservation, and human well-being. Hope Spot Champions Danieli Marinho Nobre and Guilherme Fraga Dutra emphasize that collective action must be taken now to ensure the long-term future of this region, focusing on expanding marine protections, integrating climate resilience into MPA design, and aligning conservation with Brazil’s commitments under global frameworks such as COP30. 

The Abrolhos Forever collective will play a critical role in this progress, as stated by collective member Manoela Lelis, from Coral Vivo Institute, “Abrolhos Forever is a collective effort that brings together NGOs, fishing organizations, and academia to work jointly for the conservation of the Abrolhos region, aligning actions to ensure biodiversity protection, the sustainable use of natural resources, and the well-being of local communities. By working together, we have better chances to be successful in this goal.”

For Brazil and the world, Abrolhos stands as a sanctuary of biodiversity, a stronghold for traditional communities, and a beacon of hope for the South Atlantic.

About WWF Brazil 

WWF-Brazil is a Brazilian NGO that has been working collectively with partners from civil society, universities, governments and companies throughout the country for 28 years to combat socio-environmental degradation and defend the lives of people and nature. We are connected in an interdependent network that seeks urgent solutions to the climate emergency. 

Learn more: Home | WWF Brasil

About Abrolhos Forever / Abrolhos Para Sempre 

Abrolhos Forever is a coalition of NGOs, fishing organizations, and academic institutions dedicated to conserving the Abrolhos Seascape. The initiative seeks to safeguard the region’s extraordinary biodiversity, promote the sustainable use of its natural resources, and enhance the well-being of local and traditional communities. To achieve these goals, the coalition works to expand marine protection throughout the region to promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, the recognition of traditional knowledge and practices, and the active engagement of all sectors of society.