Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve, Marine extractive reserve in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve is a federal protected area of 56,769 hectares, created by decree on 3 January 1997 and run by ICMBio. It takes in the town of Arraial do Cabo, the strip of land between the Araruama Lagoon and the ocean, and ocean south and east of town. Its coast has dunes, rocky headlands, islands and beaches, plus the near-intact Restinga da Massambaba sandbank.

The area gained protected status in 1997 as Brazil's first marine extractive reserve designed for sustainable use of ocean resources. This designation represented a new approach to balancing conservation with traditional livelihoods.

Fishing families in this area have maintained traditional methods of catching and handling seafood for generations, and you can see this heritage reflected in the daily work patterns along the shore. The profession shapes community identity and local customs in tangible ways.

Access is regulated for traditional fishing vessels with specific guidelines for sustainable catching practices. Visitors should use authorized tours and respect the protection rules that keep the area functioning.

The reserve lies where an upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water from the polar region rises along the coast, which is why the water stays clear and holds a large fish population. Six protected species are named in the sources, among them the Barber goby (Elacatinus figaro), the sea ginger (Millepora alcicornis) and the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).