No-take marine reserves (NTRs), i.e. areas with total fishing restrictions, have been established worldwide aiming to promote biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. Brazil has 3.3% of its exclusive economic zone protected by 73 different NTRs, however, most of them currently lack scientific knowledge and understanding of their ecological role, particularly regarding rocky reefs in subtropical regions. In this context, this study aimed to contrast a network of NTRs with comparable fished sites across a coastal biogeographic gradient to investigate the effect of fishing and habitat variability on the abundance and body size of rocky reef fish. We used Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video (stereo-BRUVs) and Diver Operated stereo-Video (stereo-DOVs) systems to simultaneously sample reef fish and habitat. Model selection and results identified habitat and biogeographic variables, such as distance from shore, as important predictor variables, explaining several aspects of the fish assemblage. The effect of protection was important in determining the abundance and body size of targeted species, in particular for epinephelids and carangids. Conversely, species richness was correlated with habitat complexity but not with protection status. This is the first study using these survey methods in the Southwestern Atlantic, demonstrating how a network of NTRs can provide benchmarks for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management.

24No-take marine reserves (NTRs), i.e. areas with total fishing restrictions, have been 25 established worldwide aiming to provide biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. Brazil has 26 established NTRs, but currently lacks scientific knowledge and understanding of their 27 ecological role, particularly regarding rocky reefs in subtropical regions. Consequently, this 28 study aimed to contrast NTR, from the 30 year old Tupinambás Ecological Station, and 29 comparable fished sites across a coastal biogeographic gradient to investigate the effect of 30 fishing and habitat variability on the abundance and body-size of rocky reef fish. We used 31 Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video (stereo-BRUVs) and Diver Operated stereo-Video 32 (stereo-DOVs) systems to simultaneously sample reef fish and habitat. Model selection and 33 results identified habitat and biogeographic variables, such as distance from shore, as important 34 predictor variables, explaining several aspects of the fish assemblage. The effect of protection 35 was important in determining the abundance and body-size of targeted species, in particular for 36 epinephelids and carangids. Conversely, species richness was correlated with habitat 37 complexity and not with protection status. This is the first study to publish data using these 38 novel survey methods in the Southeastern Atlantic and demonstrate their utility, in combination 39 with an established network of NTR's, to provide benchmarks for conservation and fisheries 40 management. 41 42 43 EventMeasure, GAM.46 47No-take marine reserves (NTRs) have been established worldwide as a management 48 strategy mostly aiming to recover marine biodiversity from effects of fisheries. It is well 49 documented that these areas can provide refuge to marine life, increasing local abundance, 50 species richness, body size and the reproductive capacity of fish [1][2][3][4]. 51Networks of NTRs can be used to investigate effects of fishing across biogeographic 52 gradients, with the aim of estimating benchmarks for conservation and fisheries management. 53Besides facing direct fisheries effects from biomass removal, NTRs have also highlighted 54 indirect effects, where the removal of large carnivores in areas without protection can result in 55 a higher abundance of prey species, leading to a trophic reorganization [5][6][7]. 56It is also well documented that fish assemblage structure will vary with physical, 57 chemical and biological factors across biogeographic and habitat gradients through space [8-58 10]. In particular, distance from the coast and topographic complexity have shown to increase 59 species richness, abundance and biomass of reef fish [11][12][13][14][15][16]. It is therefore important for any 60 investigation of the effects of fishing to be able to control for these covariates across any inside 61 versus outside NTR comparison. 62Brazil has 8500 km of coastline and a territorial sea that, together with the Exclusive 63 Economic Zone, encompasses 4 million km 2 . Of this area, 26.4% is protected by...

A new record of the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) in the marine environment near the rocky reef of a coastal island in Brazil is described here, being the first published report of a semi-aquatic mammal by baited remote underwater video system. This species is not usually sighted in marine waters away from the mainland coast, and it has never been reported in this environment in this region. This individual may have increased its feeding grounds further offshore as food resources close to the mainland are reduced. Baited videos present a relatively low cost option to understand better these animals existing in different habitats, improving the monitoring for these species and providing valuable information on their distribution, habitat use, and life history.

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