Spatial reconfiguration of production–living–ecology functions in coastal mountain fishing villages

Coastal mountain villages in eastern Laoshan, China, display distinctive spatial forms that have evolved through the interaction of steep topography, fragile ecosystems, and shifting local livelihoods. Although the Production–Living–Ecology (PLE) framework has become a significant reference for rural planning in China, its relevance at the village scale—especially in environmentally sensitive coastal regions—has rarely been empirically tested. This research focuses on six typical villages in the Laoshan area, tracing how production, residential, and ecological spaces overlap and diverge through everyday practices. Using spatial mapping, household surveys (n = 214), and interviews with residents and local authorities, the study identifies four recurring settlement structures—semi-enclosed, linear, dispersed, and fragmented multi-core—each linked to different livelihood systems, mobility routines, and forms of governance. Fragmentation, rather than a temporary disruption to be eliminated, is approached here as a condition embedded in the terrain itself and reinforced by resource dependence and negotiation among diverse local actors. The results deepen the understanding of how socio-ecological factors co-produce spatial arrangements in coastal settlements and suggest that effective governance must proceed through small-scale, negotiated, and context-responsive forms of coordination. • Coastal mountain villages exhibit structurally embedded PLE spatial fragmentation. • Four socio–ecological PLE typologies are identified through fine-grained mapping. • Fragmentation arises from terrain constraints, livelihood restructuring, and governance gaps. • Empirical evidence shows how everyday practices reconfigure production, living, and ecological spaces. • Findings highlight the need for incremental, negotiated, and context-specific coordination.