percebeiro

plural percebeiros

1. occupationManual harvester of goose barnacles, particularly in northern Iberia

   Much of the groundwork was already laid out – thanks to unofficial paths trampled by the boots of local fishermen and percebeiros (barnacle gatherers) over the years

   2024, Elizabeth Whitehead, “Sweetness and light”, in International Traveller, number 51, →ISSN, page 64

   2 more examples

   At the present time, the exploitation of this species is profitable, especially in northern Spain where this sea-food is highly valued, as well as expensive. However, the gathering of this resource, which is carried out manually by the percebeiros or “goose barnacle fishers” entails great risks.

   2010 February, Esteban Álvarez-Fernández, Roberto Ontañón-Peredo, José Molares-Vila, “Archaeological data on the exploitation of the goose barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes (Gmelin, 1790) in Europe”, in Journal of Archaeological Science, volume 37, number 2, →DOI, page 402

   At these, about 400,000kg of barnacles, valued at €10 million, are handled annually. Outside the hall, vans from Madrid and Barcelona (which between them will take two thirds of the catch) and the surrounding area are already waiting. Inside, the percebeiros stand in front of the sale table in their tattered trousers.

   2013 August 10, Christoph Otto, “Fortune on the rocks”, in Daily Telegraph, London, pages 26-31