During May and June, three researchers of PELD-ILOC conducted extensive data collection on Rocas Atoll, one of the Brazilian oceanic islands monitored by the initiative. The team was formed by Dr. Vinicius Giglio (UFF), Dr. Katia Capel (URFJ), M.Sc. candidate Vitor Picolloto (UFSC), and the reserve assistance was provided by Jarian Dantas (ICMBio). The main objective of this expedition was to perform the annual monitoring of reef components, and the activities included underwater visual censuses to assess reef fish assemblages, photoquadrats for the benthic community and sampling of the crab Grapsus grapsus.
Researchers observed relatively high abundances of reef fish, mainly mesopredators such as the dog snapper Lutjanus jocu, lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris and the nurse shark Gynglimostoma cyrratum. These are clear indications of the effectiveness of the marine protected area.