The assessment of fish assemblages at 5 Italian MPAs and adjacent fished areas provided evidence of clear differences attribuate to protection only at Torre Guaceto. At Porto Cesareo, the formal no-take zone is different, but due to the indirect effects of the destructive date-mussel fishery, whereas at the Tremiti Islands the difference is due to the pelicular features of the no-take zone. At Cinque Terre and Portofino the scanty differences are mostly attribuable to the recent protection. Actual and not only formal protection, MPA zoning / position and life-history traits of the studied species should be considered to properly evaluate effectiveness of MPAs.