PostDoc researcher at Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

Caio Ribeiro Pimentel

Background

As I was born and have lived almost my entire life in a coastal city, I have always had close contact with the sea. My interest in the marine environment, marine biology, and oceanography began at a young age, when I started freediving and later scuba diving. When the time came to choose an undergraduate degree, the decision was straightforward, and I chose oceanography because it addresses the oceans from a broader and more integrative perspective than marine biology alone.

During my undergraduate studies, I quickly became involved in research on marine fishes, working on topics that ranged from the trophic ecology of estuarine, tidal pool, and reef fishes to studies of reef fish assemblages and their conservation. Alongside this ecological focus, my professional career has consistently included the characterization and monitoring of artisanal fisheries, an activity and livelihood that has always deeply interested me, both scientifically and socially.
What motivates me and ultimately brought me here is the desire to better understand the relationships between marine fauna and the diverse ecosystems they inhabit, as well as the interactions between ecological processes and human activities. I am particularly driven by the idea that robust scientific knowledge can contribute to more effective conservation strategies, helping to safeguard marine biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and the services they provide for future generations.

Research interests

My research interests are on marine fish ecology and biodiversity, with a particular focus on how reef fish assemblages vary across environmental gradients in coastal, oceanic, and mesophotic reef systems. I am especially interested in understanding patterns of community structure and species distribution, and how these patterns can inform conservation and management strategies. I am also interested in artisanal fisheries and in how fishing practices, resources use, and local livelihoods interact with marine biodiversity. This interest extends to socio-ecological dynamics, participatory approaches to conservation, and the development of management tools that seek to balance biodiversity protection with the needs of fishing communities.

Current research

I am currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Federal University of São Paulo, working on initiatives that link marine conservation, fisheries management, and ecosystem services along the coast of São Paulo. My current project focuses on planning a marine Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) system to support ray conservation in collaboration with artisanal fishers and recreational divers. The research integrates citizen science, economic valuation (divers’ willingness to pay and fishers’ willingness to accept), and the conceptual design of the PES scheme, including governance, financial mechanisms, and monitoring frameworks. Overall, the project aims to co-produce the empirical and operational foundations for an innovative marine PES arrangement in Brazil, fostering transparent dialogue and strengthening the engagement of fishing communities in biodiversity management.

Brief CV

I am an oceanographer with academic background in Biological Oceanography (MSc) and Environmental Oceanography (PhD), currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Federal University of São Paulo. My research focuses on marine fish ecology, biodiversity, and conservation, with an emphasis on reef fish assemblages in coastal and oceanic systems, including mesophotic reefs and remote island ecosystems such as the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and the Vitória–Trindade seamount chain. I work primarily with non-lethal methods, including underwater visual censuses (UVC), baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVs), and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), to assess fish community structure, habitat use, and species distributions across depth gradients. Alongside ecological research, I have extensive experience with artisanal fisheries, socio-economic monitoring, and participatory approaches to conservation, particularly in the context of fisheries management and marine conservation initiatives. My work integrates oceanographic research with applied conservation, contributing to scientific assessments, monitoring programmes, and the development of management tools for reef fish and elasmobranch conservation in Brazil.

Publications

Pimentel, C.R. et al. (2026). Environmental drivers and vulnerability of reef fishes highlight the need for multi-habitat conservation in remote insular ecosystems. Marine Environmental Research.
Pimentel, C.R. et al. (2022). Ecological links between pelagic and mesophotic reef fishes in an oceanic archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic. Diversity.
Pimentel, C.R. et al. (2020). Mesophotic ecosystems at the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago reveal unique ichthyofauna and conservation needs. Neotropical Ichthyology.
Pimentel, C.R. et al. (2019). BRUVs reveal locally extinct sharks and pathways for shark monitoring in Brazilian oceanic islands. Journal of Fish Biology.
Pimentel, C.R. et al. (2019). New records of Serranus chionaraia confirm an established population in the Brazilian Province. Journal of Fish Biology.
Pimentel, C.R. & Joyeux, J.-C. (2018). Trophic relationships in tidepool fish assemblages of the tropical SW Atlantic. Marine Ecology.
Pimentel, C.R. & Joyeux, J.-C. (2010). Diet and food partitioning among juvenile snappers in a mangrove-fringed estuary. Journal of Fish Biology.