Port Transformation and Community Decline in a Fishing Neighborhood: The Case of El Varadero in the Port of Motril (Spain)

Isidro Maya-Jariego (), David Florido-del-Corral and Mateus Rafael Uchoa-Dantas
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Isidro Maya-Jariego: Social Psychology Department, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Seville, Spain
David Florido-del-Corral: Social Anthropology Department, Universidad de Sevilla, 41004 Seville, Spain
Mateus Rafael Uchoa-Dantas: Social Psychology Department, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Seville, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: This study examines the evolving relationship between the Port of Motril and the adjacent fishing community of El Varadero. The reduction in fishing quotas and the port’s transformation into a maritime transport hub have not only reshaped the connection between the area and the port but have also contributed to the gradual decline of the local community. Through a community survey conducted among residents of the fishing neighborhood and the urban center ( n = 65), we assessed community assets, psychological sense of community, and collective self-efficacy in this coastal area in southern Granada. The survey findings were supplemented with interviews with key informants from the local fishing sector ( n = 5). The results indicate that residents of the fishing neighborhood perceive a higher prevalence of social problems and report a diminished sense of belonging. The community’s historical ties to the port have progressively weakened, exposing residents to ongoing socio-economic decline. This study explores the potential of fishing cultural heritage as a resource for local development and highlights the need for integrated governance between the fishing sector and the local authorities.

Keywords: city-port relationship; fishing district; coastal communities; psychological sense of community; fishing heritage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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