however, due to over-fishing the production of these factories declined, and the industry turned to tourism as a replacement - some of these fish factories have subsequently been turned into pousadas and hotels, and today more than 5000 inhabitants live on ilha grande spread over 20 small villages.

today the island's economy relies almost exclusively tourism and, part of a protected area also including mangaratiba, paraty, and angra dos reis, ilha grande is being recognized as a ever more important asset to the region and to the world.

in fact, ilha grande was recently submitted to the unesco for consideration in being declared natural patrimony of the world - similarly to other ecological sanctuaries such as fernando de noronha, in north-eastern brazil.