Brazil Establishes Largest Marine Protected Area in the South Atlantic

Brazil’s federal government has created the Albardão Marine National Park, the largest marine protected area in the South Atlantic, spanning over one million hectares (2.5 million acres) off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul. The creation of the park, officially announced on March 6, 2026, follows twenty years of negotiations and aims to protect a critical biodiversity hotspot and safeguard endangered species [1].

Protecting a Biodiversity Hotspot

The Albardão Marine Park and its accompanying coastal environmental protected area are home to at least 25 endangered species, including the critically endangered franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) and the endangered Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus). The park likewise provides habitat for 23 species of endangered sharks and rays, including angelshark species and the critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostomus) [3].

Park Details and Buffer Zones

The newly established national park is Brazil’s largest marine park and the third-largest marine protected area in the country. In addition to the core park area of over one million hectares, a buffer zone spanning an additional 614,000 hectares (1.5 million acres) has been included in the government decree [1]. An adjacent coastal protected area covers nearly 56,000 hectares (138,000 acres) and includes dune fields and natural shell deposits containing Pleistocene epoch megafauna fossils, such as ground sloths, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, and mastodons [3].

Sustainable Utilize and Economic Considerations

The government decree allows for sustainable ecotourism, scientific research, and artisanal fishing within the marine and coastal protected areas. The creation of the park involved navigating political resistance from sectors aligned with fishing and offshore wind power industries [4]. Limited economic activity is permitted within the buffer zones under strict regulatory conditions, representing a compromise between conservation and economic interests [4].

A Landmark Conservation Achievement

The establishment of the Albardão Marine National Park is a significant step forward in protecting South Atlantic marine biodiversity and represents a tribute to the efforts of local partner organizations and experts [2]. The park’s unique combination of endangered wildlife and ancient fossil deposits makes it an irreplaceable natural treasure for both current conservation efforts and future scientific discoveries [3].