Abstract
BACKGROUND: The paper presents an extensive dataset of the shallow reef fish communities and habitat characteristics in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Southwest Atlantic). The data were collected from August to October 2006 in the Fernando de Noronha main island. To evaluate the shallow reef fish communities, 165 visual censuses were performed in eight different localities in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. NEW INFORMATION: The dataset reports a comprehensive compilation of the shallow reef fish abundance, of eight localities of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. The dataset reveals spatial heterogeneity amongst the selected localities in terms of fish abundance, composition and size.