UNESCO World Heritage Site Fernando de Noronha Archipelago Joins Mission Blue Hope Spot Network

October 30, 2025

[FERNANDO DE NORONHA, BRAZIL] – The Fernando de Noronha Archipelago rises from the Atlantic waters off the northeastern coast of Brazil as a chain of 21 volcanic islands. World-renowned for its crystal-clear waters, abundant marine life, and breathtaking landscapes, the inhabited main island of Fernando de Noronha has become one of Brazil’s most sought-after tourism destinations.

International marine conservation nonprofit Mission Blue is proud to announce the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago as our newest Hope Spot. Fabio Borges, President of Instituto Vida no Oceano and Projeto Tubarões e Raias de Noronha, and Rafaely Ventura, Project Coordinator at Projeto Tamar, are recognized as the Hope Spot Champions.

“Fernando de Noronha is one of the most extraordinary environments in that tropical Atlantic. Its translucent waters and abundant marine life make it a true sanctuary of biodiversity. Here a mosaic of ecosystems exist in delicate balance—coral reefs, rocky shores, sandy bottoms, algal fields, deep water channels, and oceanic transition zones,” says Dr. Sylvia Earle, founder of Mission Blue. She continues, “The designation of Fernando de Noronha as a Hope Spot strengthens the work of scientists, public institutions, civil society, organizations, and local communities that have dedicated decades to preserving this special place.”

Fernando de Noronha’s unique geography as an extension of a chain of oceanic mountains creates nutrient-rich environments that sustain an abundance of marine life. The islands are ecologically linked by currents and migratory routes to areas across the Atlantic including the west coast of Africa, the Caribbean, and Central America. The nearby Rocas Atoll Biological Reserve, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just 150 km away, and these islands create a “stepping stone” effect for species across the South Atlantic. Together, these protected areas form a reservoir of biodiversity and provide spillover benefits for surrounding ecosystems.

Fernando de Noronha is home to two major conservation units: the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park and the Environmental Protection Area. The Marine National Park functions as a no-take zone, with strict protections in place, while the Environmental Protection Area is home to the island’s residents and allows for regulated use. These measures safeguard one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the South Atlantic, with approximately 1,500 recorded species of fauna and flora, including 250 species of reef fish, nesting sea turtles, humpback whales, and spinner dolphins. The archipelago also provides critical habitat for 80 bird species, including the endemic Noronha Elaenia (Elaenia ridleyana) and the Noronha Vireo (Vireo gracilirostris).

“The scenic beauty of Noronha leaves no doubt: here, nature takes center stage and has a true potential to inspire everyone about the importance of protecting the ocean and its biodiversity,” shares Dr. Fabio Borges. He continues, ““Visiting the seafloor in Noronha is a deeply transformative experience. Its warm, crystal-clear waters welcome visitors as they witness firsthand the wealth of colors, shapes, and variety of living beings that only the ocean can provide.”

Despite these protections, the archipelago faces mounting pressures. Above all, uncontrolled tourism has emerged as one of the greatest challenges. What was once celebrated as a model of low-impact eco-tourism has grown into unsustainable visitation levels that risk undermining the ecological foundation of the archipelago. The pressure of resident and tourist populations on the fragile ecosystems is unsustainable at current levels, and invasive species introduced by human visitors threaten native plants and animals. Re-balancing this profile is critical: without conservation, the very scenic beauty and marine life that attract visitors will be lost. 

“Fernando de Noronha is a unique territory, where the beauty of its landscapes meets the richness of its marine life. Its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters create a landscape of great environmental and cultural value,” elaborates Rafaely Ventura. “These conditions make the archipelago one of the best places in the world for scientific research, nature conservation, and environmental education, preserving natural nurseries and breeding and feeding grounds for species such as turtles, rays, and sharks. Protecting this heritage is a collective commitment, ensuring that future generations can discover and be enchanted by Noronha’s marine life.”

Fishing currently occurs on a subsistence scale by island residents in designated areas of the Environmental Protection Area and is considered sustainable. However, official monitoring of commercial fishing in offshore areas and seamounts remains insufficient, posing additional risks. Oil exploration continues to be a threat to the area, as the possibility of offshore drilling could have devastating consequences for Fernando de Noronha and the Atol das Rocas Marine Reserve.

“The right experience we can have here is learning that nature and human life can coexist and maintain direct connections. This requires knowledge and respect, and the understanding that in some places nature must remain undisturbed, while in others we can practice our habits in an orderly way. In this regard, the history of Fernando de Noronha shows how people value the local environment, its elements, and the health it promotes,” reflects Lucas Penna, Researcher at the Marine National Park of Fernando de Noronha. “Despite facing several local and global environmental challenges, it is undeniable that this archipelago must remain protected and represents a point of hope for us.”

The Hope Spot designation will serve as a crucial reinforcement in redirecting focus toward conservation values and elevating local, regional, and international collaboration. Plans for the coming years include expanding environmental education programs for children and adolescents, improving interpretive materials on trails and visitor sites, and promoting awareness of the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of conservation through events, lectures, and workshops. The Hope Spot Champions also emphasize the need to strengthen enforcement of existing protections, secure additional resources for management, and apply the Hope Spot framework to guide technical planning for the expansion of marine protected areas now under discussion by Brazilian agencies.

For the Champions, the recognition of Fernando de Noronha as a Hope Spot is not only an acknowledgment of its global importance but also a call to prioritize conservation at the center of the island’s future. By confronting the threats of unregulated growth, invasive species, and unsustainable tourism, this designation can help transform the archipelago into a model of balance—where ecological stewardship ensures that Fernando de Noronha remains both a sanctuary for biodiversity and a beacon of hope for generations to come.

About Instituto Vida no Oceano

The Instituto Vida no Oceano (IVO) is a non-profit organization founded by researchers and communicators dedicated to ocean conservation, built on three main pillars: scientific research that provides the foundation for practical actions, communication with society grounded in high-quality scientific data, and the support of sustainable socio-economic development with an emphasis on conscious, low-impact tourism as a tool for raising awareness and fostering engagement. IVO’s flagship initiative is the Sharks and Rays of Noronha Project (TRN), which focuses on elasmobranchs. Multiple ongoing studies complement each other to build a more complete understanding of this group in the archipelago, while also supplying essential information for local management decisions and supporting continuous outreach efforts, community engagement, professional training, and more. Our Citizen Science initiatives have received international recognition from UNESCO through the Green Citizens seal.

About Projeto Tamar

The Fundação Projeto Tamar has been operating on the Brazilian coast since the 1980s with the mission of promoting the recovery of the sea turtle population through research, conservation, and social inclusion. It is a private, non-profit organization with its own resource generation (sustainability) and co-executor of the PAN (National Action Plan for the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Brazil) of the ICMBio/MMA, responsible for a large portion of the planned actions.

It operates in 22 locations across eight Brazilian states, including coastal areas and oceanic islands: Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco (Fernando de Noronha – FEN), Sergipe, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina. Fernando de Noronha is an important feeding ground for two species (Chelonia mydas – Green Turtle and Eretmochelys imbricata – Hawksbill Turtle) and a breeding ground for Chelonia mydas . The Fundação Projeto Tamar develops research, management, and protection activities for the five species of sea turtles found in Brazil, as well as community engagement, social inclusion, environmental awareness and education, promotion of local culture, and the generation of job and income opportunities.