São Miguel

São Miguel occupies Santiago's northern coast—a municipality combining fishing activity with agricultural production in interior valleys. Calheta de São Miguel, the main settlement, provides local services while maintaining the small-scale economy characteristic of Santiago's rural areas.

Fishing sustains coastal populations. Traditional boats work offshore waters, landing catches for local consumption and sale in Santiago's markets. Seasonal variability creates income instability, but fishing remains economically and culturally significant.

Agricultural activity in valley areas produces vegetables, fruits, and livestock. The combination of fishing and farming creates diversified household economies—a resilience strategy common in Cape Verdean rural communities where single-sector dependence carries high risk.

The biological pattern is mixed subsistence: São Miguel maintains multiple economic activities at modest scales, avoiding the specialization that characterizes tourism islands but also limiting growth potential.