Starting in the late 1970s real estate speculators began to buy property from the local residents, anticipating the future potential for tourist resorts.

[5] The struggle to create the reserve began in 2001, demanded by the Residents Association of Prainha do Canto Verde to protect the area where they live and fish.

[3] The Prainha do Canto Verde Marine Extractive Reserve was created by federal decree on 5 June 2009 with an area of about 29,794 hectares (73,620 acres).

[8] On 28 October 2009 the Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária (INCRA – National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform) recognised the reserve as meeting the needs of 360 small rural producer families, who would qualify for PRONAF support.

[9] The "Independent Association of Residents of Prainha and Adjacencies" (AIMPA) attempted to have creation of the reserve annulled, but their action was rejected by a federal judge on 16 December 2014.