The housing nucleus of Culatra Island dates from the 16th century, as a seasonal movement of people who came to work on sardine fishing’ communities.

Due to the abundance of fish and shellfish and the amenity of the waters of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, some families decided to settle, building temporary housing. After these first fixations, a growing movement of population was generated, which implied the progressive multiplication of the constructions.

Due to the territorial isolation, social isolation was much more pronounced, and the community was preserved from all the evolution of the improvement of the living conditions that over time were being created by both the central and local Administration. Faced with these constraints, the resident community engaged in collective actions to seek the suppression of their basic needs, as electricity, drinking water, sanitation, education, health, urban planning, among others. It is in this context, that the Association of Residents of Culatra Island (AMIC) was created in 1987.  Since this date, the resident community, as well as the housing nucleus, have been provided with infrastructure and life support that improved significantly the social and economic life of the island’ inhabitants. Most of the work done by AMIC is focused on creating conditions to ensure continuity, sustainability and dignity of the community, preserving the identity and defense of the Culatra Fishing Community. Examples of this collective engagement are the support structures present nowadays on the Island, such as a Chapel, School of Basic Education, Social Centre, Health Care Centre, Red Cross Pole, the distribution of potable water, sanitation and electricity, as well as a Port of Shelter to support the fishing activities.

The combine effort to be resilient of this community resulted in economic development of the population, and it increase capacity to preserve and protect the fragile environment where they live and work. Several actions were put in place such as the seek and carry out scientific and pedagogical activities with the objective of preserving natural resources as a factor of sustainability and development, the protection and dissemination of cultural and historical heritage and, above all, the promotion and defence of citizenship. Recently, and a recognition of their importance as community they were reward, by the National Government, of a legal status to occupy the Public Maritime Domain. Which mean that inhabitants will receive concessions for land use on the next 30 years and be allowed to legalise their housing. These concessions can be renewed if the family makes proof of their continue linkage with the fishing activities.