Gooseneck barnacle populations are declining rapidly. The effects of these falling numbers are being felt in Spain, where barnacles are a delicacy, especially during the Christmas period.
What’s happening?
According to Reuters, the price of gooseneck barnacles has skyrocketed in Spain due to high demand and limited supply. Two parallel factors appear to be at play. One of them is climate change. The second is illegal fishing.
An auctioneer at A Coruna’s fish market said the number of barnacles a decade ago was double or triple what it is today, Reuters reported.
The number of barnacle pickers, known locally as percebeiros, has also declined sharply, the outlet said. One said only about 30 remain in his hometown of Corme, from a maximum of 100 to 200.
“The percebeiro trade on the Costa da Morte is dying out. This is due to climate change, absurd laws, illegal fishing and a lack of workers,” percebeiro Roberto Vidal told Reuters.
Why are barnacle numbers declining?
Barnacles thrive in icy waters, so rising sea temperatures have destroyed their natural habitat. The past three decades have seen the warmest sea temperatures on record, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Watch Now: NYC Just Expanded Its Curbside Composting Program
In response to declining numbers of gooseneck barnacles, the Spanish government has tried to limit the number that can be collected, Reuters reported. This is in addition to the strict Spanish laws against illegal fishing. But these measures have proven to be ineffective. As the price of gooseneck barnacles has risen, so has the presence of illegal fishermen trying to make money.
What is being done about the barnacles?
The percebeiros are calling on the Spanish government to step up surveillance of the coast, according to Reuters. The hope is that increased enforcement will stop the overfishing of barnacles and give the population time to recover.
Huge investments are also being made in research and technology with the aim of making our oceans healthy and getting our ecosystems back on track. Microsoft recently announced a deal with a company called Ebb Carbon to remove harmful carbon pollution from our oceans.
And countries around the world are joining forces to prioritize the health of our waters. Recently, representatives from 56 Commonwealth countries agreed to the Apia Ocean Declaration, pledging to protect our oceans from pollution and overexploitation.
There is still much work to be done in the fight to reverse the damage we have done to our oceans and the marine life that lives in them, including barnacles. But with a mix of technological innovation, strong laws and enforcement, it is a battle we can win.
Sign up for our free newsletter for good news And useful tipsand don’t miss this cool list of simple ways to help yourself and help the planet at the same time.