The multitude of hearts that bring vibrancy to the quaint coastal village of Bocacangrejo, nestled between Radazul and Acorán, pulse in harmony to call for the acknowledgment of this charming location as an established urban community, a goal that will ensure the preservation and sustainable growth of this spot in Tenerife.
Around 400 inhabitants reside in Bocacangrejo, a number that swells during the summertime with the influx of tourists who come to admire this fashionable village, recently in the limelight thanks to the iconic hearts that Rafa, a local resident, used to adorn the white walls and pathways lining the beach.
It is a distinctive place, a nook enveloped by the sea, where its narrow alleys and stairways exude local character, yet also pose risks due to deficiencies in amenities such as road surfacing, safety barriers, and even waste containers, noticeable to both residents and visitors alike.
Hence, in defence of the distinctiveness of this area and to foster economic, social, cultural, and environmental advancement of the coastal communities, the Bocacangrejo Movement Association for Coastal Villages (Moboca) has been established, a community organization that channels its efforts towards clinching the official recognition of this village as an established urban hub to attract investments and enhancements in infrastructure, public services, and sustainable development projects, ensuring stronger legal safeguards for the locality against haphazard expansions.
Luis Blanco and Sandra González, the president and secretary of Moboca, respectively, convey to DIARIO DE AVISOS that “we are in a jurisdictional grey zone, as although Bocacangrejo falls under the jurisdiction of El Rosario, which has shown willingness to assist us, conversely, the General Directorate of Coasts and the Cabildo have been unresponsive to the basic needs of the village due to its unrecognised status. A locale that has blossomed into a sought-after destination that, while a source of pride, has also strained local amenities and resources,” they highlight.
Moboca advocates for the “pressing imperative” to enhance infrastructure and services to effectively manage this growth and ensure the welfare of residents and tourists, as “we contribute taxes like everyone else, yet when seeking attention to fundamental issues, we are met with neglect, as we lack recognition,” state the representatives of the Association. This predicament, in contrast to coastal localities, they deem “unjust”, as other villages receive aid and enhancements, “while Bocacangrejo, despite being among the most visited on the Island, lacks appropriate services.” The necessities encompass enhancements in road safety; rehabilitation and upkeep of roads, walkways, and trails; introduction of weekend bus services, currently absent; provision of alternative parking facilities; renovation of access stairways to the sea and acknowledgment as a bathing area, thus gaining access to more amenities; substitution of traditional lighting with photovoltaic fixtures for sustainability; improvements to potable water, or additional waste receptacles and sanitation resources to curb the proliferation of rodents and insects, among others.
Amenities
A roster of demands that, whilst the El Rosario City Council tackles what is most pressing within the confines of the law, Moboca deems it inadequate, hence kickstarting a fundraising campaign among residents to engage the services of José Luis Langa, an attorney representing the Canarian Platform of Coastal Law Affected People, whose legal counsel “is vital to making headway in the recognition and advocacy of the rights of the Bocacangrejo community,” assures the association.
Moboca, which has its own statutes to bolster its campaign for the recognition of the maritime villages of Tenerife affected by coastal demarcations, also encourages other coastal villages to unite with this movement, aiming to establish a collaborative platform of spaces to foster innovative, cultural, historical, and artistic activities and ventures.
A defence strategy centred on environmental protection and voluntary work allows citizen involvement towards attaining enhancements in these as yet unestablished centres that, akin to Bocacangrejo, plead for their sustenance to be a sustainable benchmark for the Canary Islands and beyond.
