Top Barnacle Fishing Countries

Barnacles, specifically the edible goose barnacle (Percebes), are a prized seafood delicacy harvested mainly along the rocky Atlantic coasts of southwestern Europe and parts of North Africa. These crustaceans cling to wave-battered rocks, making their collection both dangerous and labor-intensive. Spain and Portugal are the top barnacle fishing countries, with Spain’s Galicia region being especially renowned for its percebes industry. Harvesters, known as “percebeiros,” brave treacherous tides to collect them, and the high risk involved contributes to their premium market price. Smaller but notable harvests also occur in France’s Brittany region and along the Moroccan coast, where local communities rely on barnacle fishing for both subsistence and export. The industry is tightly regulated in many regions to prevent overharvesting and ensure sustainability due to the barnacle’s slow growth and high demand.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.