[4] As of 2007 the reserve was inhabited by about 3,000 families with about 6,000 fishermen in 50 small communities on islands, channels, rivers and beaches.

[3] The Mãe Grande de Curuçá Extractive Reserve was created by federal decree on 13 December 2002.

The objective is to protect the livelihoods and culture of the traditional extractive population, and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources of the unit.

[5] On 22 June 2005 the Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária (INCRA: National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform) recognised the reserve as meeting the needs of 1,600 families of small rural producers, who would qualify for PRONAF support.

The same day ICMBio granted the right of use to the Users' Association of the reserve (Associação dos Usuários da Reserva Extrativista Mãe Grande de Curuçá - AUREMAG).