Large marine animals are being seen more frequently again in the Alcatrazes archipelago off São Paulo. Ten years after the protected area was established, a Folha de S.Paulo report describes the return of sharks and other predators. At the same time, official investigations show that protecting the area from illegal fishing remains an ongoing task.
A protected area since 2016
The archipelago lies about 40 kilometres off São Sebastião and Ilhabela. A decree dated 2 August 2016 established the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre do Arquipélago de Alcatrazes. This ten-year review therefore does not describe a new designation in October 2026.
ICMBio employee Daniel Lage tells Folha that large fish and sharks have reappeared after earlier heavy fishing pressure. These observations suggest that the food web is recovering. However, the report does not provide a new standardised survey series from which to calculate a precise population increase or the contribution of individual protection measures.
More than a stopover for sand tiger sharks
Scientific evidence also points to the importance of Alcatrazes for sand tiger sharks. Our report on the breeding area describes records from different seasons and observations suggesting mating and other stages of the reproductive cycle. This helps explain why protected habitat there matters to the species. It does not replace an assessment of all shark populations in the archipelago.
Operation Barbatana investigates illegal catches
The Brazilian Federal Police launched Operation Barbatana on 15 September 2026, supported by ICMBio and Ibama. It stems from an inspection in November 2025, when more than 300 sharks and other fish were seized and administrative fines exceeding three million reais were imposed.
The authority lists silky sharks, scalloped hammerheads, smooth hammerheads and Carcharhinus brevipinna among the identified sharks. Its statement concerns an ongoing investigation. It establishes neither a new seizure in October nor a final criminal conviction of those responsible.
Recovery and enforcement need to be considered together
The return of large predators and continuing investigations are not contradictory. An area can improve ecologically while still suffering from unauthorised removals. Repeated biological surveys and verifiable fishing enforcement are therefore both essential.
The new report and the official statement describe different parts of this assessment: observed habitat changes on the one hand, and the investigation of specific suspected violations on the other. Together, they show the value of the protected area and the work still needed to preserve it.