Abrolhos literally means "eye opener". The Abrolhos reef in Brazil won its name because of its unique coral formations and because its shallow waters are frequented by large numbers of reproducing humpback whales. The peculiar mushroom-shaped coral heads there are composed mostly of species completely unique to Abrolhos. The high degree of species endemism is a result of Abrolhos' total isolation from other coral reefs.

Pressures on this ecosystem include over-fishing, reckless tour operators and deforestation in adjacent coastal areas. CSF is now helping training graduate Heloisa Oliveira and her colleagues at Conservation International use economic analysis to regulate fishing in the area. Heloisa and her team are studying fish stocks toward the goal of establishing a marine "extractive reserve" managed by two local communities. Based on the research, the communities will establish their own regulations for limiting the catch as well as a strategy for avoiding entry of outside fishing vessels. This reserve, a novelty in Brazil, is fashioned after the extractive reserves established in the western Amazon for rubber tappers.