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Marine protected areas (MPAs) are essential tools for managing marine resources, but their effectiveness depends on the involvement of local communities and appropriate government policies. The present study sought to verify and compare the existence of Ostrom's principles in the Recife de Fora Marine Park ("RFMP") and the Coroa Alta Marine Park ("CAMP"), the only no-take marine areas located in the Royal Charlotte Bank, Bahia, east coast of Brazil, in order to determine the institutional robustness of these MPA. The methodology consisted of interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Sixty-one interviews were conducted with representatives of civil society, public sector, and the private sector, related to MPAs. The results showed that the RFMP has a more robust institution than the CAMP, considering the presence of eight Ostrom's principles in the RFMP and only one Ostrom's principle in the CAMP. In conclusion, the case observed in the RFMP demonstrates how small groups of users who interact according to common rules that are respected and accepted by the group, involving institutions at different scales, can help improve the governance of MPAs. On the other hand, the CAMP has failed to include society in the local context and to construct actions collectively aimed at the legitimacy of decisions for the MPA and, thus, it can be considered a "paper park", being necessary to completely reform the actions related this MPA. [Display omitted] • Measures aimed improve governance are crucial to effectiveness of protected areas. • Small groups of users can improve the governance of marine protected areas. • Ostrom's principles presence reinforces marine protected areas effectiveness. • Marine protected areas effectiveness depends of the local communities involvement. • This study shows that small steps can improve the governance of protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]