The proximity to the sea has negatively impacted the monument, causing the sailor's cap and the face of the bust, created by sculptor Fernando Benítez 'Nando', to be stained by seagull droppings and covered in green patina. Some areas of the sculpture have also lost their original color.
In addition to the figure's deterioration, the plinth supporting the sculpture displays evident cracks, reflecting general neglect. Despite not being included in the current municipal campaign for sculpture renewal, the importance of Paco Alba and the bust's iconic location justify improvement efforts.
“"The figure of Paco Alba is the work of the late Cádiz sculptor Fernando Benítez 'Nando', commissioned by Cádiz fan clubs led by Pepe Berenguer and Antonio Benítez. It was funded by popular subscription ('Because the people want it') and inaugurated on April 29, 1979."
The statue, inaugurated on April 29, 1979, was funded through a popular campaign and initially placed on the upper promenade of La Caleta. It was later moved on January 27, 1997, to its current location in Plaza del Canal de Ponce, following a prior restoration by Nando Benítez himself due to vandalism.
A notable incident in the bust's history was the theft of the original model from the sculptor's workshop in October 1978. The perpetrator, a follower of Paco Alba, returned it the following day, explaining he acted out of affection for the artist and his work.
