Memory of active stakeholders can be used to identify recent and historical changes in reef environments
historical reconstruction; shifting baseline; historical ecology; brazilian reefs
Reefs are sensitive ecosystems affected by global changes (e.g., warming and acidification of the oceans) and local impacts (e.g., fishing and eutrophication). Recent records show that these ecosystems are changing rapidly, although the magnitude and timing of these changes are still unclear. We assessed changes in the seascape of Brazilian reefs, interviewing key stakeholders that make different uses of these ecosystems, such as fishermen, divers, and researchers. For most stakeholders, the health of Brazilian reef environments has been declining since the 1970s, evidenced by the decline of herbivorous fish within the Labridae: Scarinae (parrotfish) group and reef builders (massive corals). On the other hand, these authors also detected an increase in algae and smaller fish of the family Pomacentridae (damselfishes), in addition to pointing out the recovery of sea turtle populations. Assessing the memory of reef users allows determining the timing of these changes, to identify regional idiosyncrasies and groups of organisms that are most vulnerable to changes. This information is important to inform protection and conservation efforts, especially in developing countries, where marine research is relatively new or insufficient.