Spain's Rural Economy: Settlements, Agriculture, Fishing

Spanish Rural and Economic Geography

Settlement Patterns in Spain

Settlement patterns in Spain are broadly categorized into two types:

Dispersed Rural Settlements

Scattered rural homes are separated from other houses and are surrounded by farmland, meadows, and forests. This pattern dominates the periphery of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands.

Concentrated Urban Settlements

In concentrated populations, houses are grouped into towns and villages. This pattern extends throughout the interior and the basins of the Duero and Ebro rivers.

The Agricultural Sector and Livestock

Modern Livestock Production

Current livestock practices are very important, with experiments that have allowed for increased yields. Livestock tends to specialize in meat production or milk. Technical training progressively increases, utilizing new machinery and the study of scientific livestock feeding. All of this contributes to high performance, though many places still face inadequate conditions.

Intensive vs. Extensive Farming

Intensive farming is contrasted with extensive farming. Extensive farming depends on the physical environment and is prevalent in the Northern Peninsula and mountain areas. Intensive farming, however, is disconnected from the physical environment and is located in urban centers of consumption, the northeast coast, and the mainland.

Evolving Rural Areas

New Uses and Decentralization

New uses in rural areas have emerged due to several factors:

• A new positive perception of rural living and residency.
• A trend to decentralize these uses, including:
  • Residential uses
  • Industrial uses
  • Tertiary (service) uses

Consequences of New Rural Uses

The introduction of these new uses has both positive and negative consequences:

• Positive: A more balanced distribution of population.
• Negative: Potential loss of identity for agricultural areas and environmental degradation.

Challenges in Rural Spain

The Rural Crisis

The introduction of new uses coincides with a crisis in rural areas, characterized by:

• The decline in population engaged in agrarian activities.
• The decrease of the relative contribution to GDP (currently 3%).
• The reduction of participation in agricultural trade.

Spanish Fishing Industry

Fishing Grounds and Key Regions

Spanish national fishing grounds stretch from the coast within 200 nautical miles, which delimit the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The three most active regions are the Northwest, the Cantabrian Sea, and the South Atlantic.

Fishing Activity and Fleet

The primary destination for fishing activity is human consumption; Spain is the second-largest consumer. The fleet comprises boats of small dimensions, primarily targeting national stocks.