in 1759, however, the jesuits were expelled from the settlement, and later replaced by the benedictine and carmelitas orders. it was at this point that the town grew due to into a thriving fishing community. in fact, being the town a main passage way to campos and macaé, fishing became the main economy of the area until the mid nineteenth century. the development of the area and the construction of the amaral peixoto highway officially made rio das ostras an important touristic destination, leading to the town's emancipation from the nearby municipality of casimiro de abreu.