Going With the Tide

Going With the Tide documents the transformations, contradictions and tensions unfolding on Culatra Island—part of one of Portugal’s most significant wetland ecosystems. Through collaborative ethnographic filmmaking, the project highlights the often-overlooked role of women in fishing communities. It examines the shift from artisanal fishing and bivalve harvesting to oyster farming—an industry increasingly tied to global consumption demands. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria Formosa, a unique lagoon ecosystem of mudflats and marshes, Going With the Tide tells the stories of resistance and struggle of a community striving to remain on the island amid environmental regulation, growing tourism, and the pursuit of better living conditions. In collaboration with Sciaena—an NGO focused on ocean conservation and ecological awareness— the University of Algarve and local institutions on Culatra, Going With the Tide positions visual anthropology as an active, interdisciplinary practice.

Project lead: Raquel Carvalheira

Team: Amaya Sumpsi, Teresa Carvalho Costa, Joana Lucas, Catarina Alves Costa and Rodrigo Lacerda

Partner: Valentina Muñoz, Sciaena, Culatra 2030 

Keywords: Wetlands, Citizenship, Local knowledge, Women, Visual ethnography