The site is located at 23ºS and 42ºW, in the city of Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro state. The area is influenced by the upwelling of SACW (South Atlantic Central Water), from approximately 300 meters depth, with temperatures ranging from 13 to 18 ° C. The occurrence of this phenomenon is due to topographical features, meteorological and hydrological, unique in this region. This upwelling has attracted attention because of the great fishing productivity, motivating many studies on this issue, especially on the oceanographic processes involved. This has led to the creation of the second Marine Extractive Reserve of Brazil, the RESEX-Mar Arraial do Cabo. The results coming from LTER RECA contributes to the consolidation of Extractive Reserve, through the provision of scientific information generated in different studies.

Islands are unique place to be characterized as a long-term monitoring site, sustaining communities and preserved high rate of endemism. For not having the typical impacts of increasing urbanization in the coastal zone, it becomes possible to reliably identify the appropriate sources of impacts (such as overfishing), and the direct consequences on the system. This statement is difficult to precisely on the coast where the synergism disorders does not isolate each process. Still being the islands of control ICMBio with some protection status (Fernando de Noronha = National Park; Atol das Rocas = Biological Reserve), or with ongoing research programs with the logistical support of the Navy of Brazil and funding CNPQ (Archipelago St. Peter and St. Paul and Trindade island), management and conservation rules can be more efficiently deployed without generating conflicts with the various groups of users of the areas, which is a common situation when it comes to coastal systems where 50% of the population live.