Moving Seascapes: The Architecture and Biology of Fishing and Canning on the Portuguese Coast

Abstract

When they fish, humans play an active part in the dynamics of marine ecosys-tems, and architecture is subsequently involved in the processing of their catch. Our goal is to develop the idea of Fishing Architecture as a useful concept for understanding the interconnected relationship between architecture and fish-ing. By analysing the architectural and ecological outcomes of fisheries and can-ning industry, we will try to assess the complex relationship between human ac-tivities and environmental transformations. How can we represent the intricate relationship between the sea and the coast? This text seeks to state this hypothe-sis and incorporate ecological information into the analysis of the development of the sardine canning industry in Matosinhos. Based on the knowledge of ma-rine ecology, we hope to find an original perspective from which to visualize and evaluate urban developments and their environmental impacts.