The coastal marine Ecological Station, which has an area of 9,361 hectares (23,130 acres), was created on 23 January 1990.

[1] It is located in the municipalities of Angra dos Reis and Parati in Rio de Janeiro state.

[2] It also includes the marine environment within a radius of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), which comprises 4% of the Ilha Grande Bay.

[2] The specific purpose is to protect and monitor a representative sample of the Atlantic maritime island ecosystem and its marine aquatic environment.

It is hoped that the ecological station will serve as a protective shield to the coastal bays, allowing the marine ecosystems to revive.