Why Gooseneck Barnacles Are So Expensive | So Expensive

Gooseneck barnacles are one of the most expensive seafoods in the world. Just 1 pound can cost over $100 in Spain and Portugal, where the barnacles are considered a delicacy. But getting your hands on them is harder than it seems. The job comes with serious risks — and even the possibility of death. So why are these barnacles so difficult to harvest? And is that what makes them so expensive?

Bart Vandever also contributed as a producer on this story.

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Why Gooseneck Barnacles Are So Expensive | So Expensive

[austinr]

I never thought to myself "why are goose barnacles so expensive?" Wow. You learn something new everyday....

[aakk]

I find the harvesting of these barnacles both very satisfying and unsettling.

[lerinasan]

Expensive delicacy starter pack
-Weird looking
-Hard to find
-Chances of dying
-Hand picked by natives, experts
-Tastes like normal food
-Presentation
-Market:STONKS

[n.ayisha]

the risk of death really improves the taste of those barnacles. also, i love how they talk about the care that is taken to avoid damage to other nearby creatures... just as he jabs a knife into a mass of barnacles and proceeds to twist the whole mass loose from the rock.

[adadadatt]

For anyone wondering about him not wearing a life vest... he IS wearing a life vest. That's a Mustang brand inflatable life vest. It has a CO2 cartridge that can inflate when in the water.

[isieboo]

The person who found out we could eat this thing must spent years starving. I would have seen this and never thought we can actually eat it

[TacoStacks]

Fun fact: you had no idea what gooseneck barnacles were before you clicked on this video.

[Akymma]

For anyone not aware the most priced barnacles in EU are the ones coming from the Costa Da Morte (The Coast of Death) in Galicia (Spain) and right now you need to pay about 48€ for 500 grams but they can go higher than 70€. If they're from Cantabria however they can be worth (depending on season and class) up to +100€ per Kg. Just last year 5 people died while harvesting them.

[SolidTrades]

I just feel like there is a lot of potential in upgrading the harvesting tools.

[johansmallberries]

The most dangerous part is seeing that dude chisel away with that knife.

[myownfreemind]

When my parents lived in Portugal they went to a market on the week and bought this to eat. They’re apparently amazing, never personally tried.

[LRon-efni]

Ack. Seeing all those barnacles gives me the goosebumps.

[MahiAviation]

Why is everything “so expensive”? They should do a series about “so cheap” lol

[Mim-mz]

I tried these in Portugal once and i was absolutely terrified by its look, i remember the taste wasn’t that bad i enjoyed it

[hermitkiddd]

I’ve harvested these before. What you saw in this video is an easy catch. They get much tougher.

[wc]

I went camping on Vancouver Island, yes came across a coastline with tons of this stuff. It takes some skills, and lots of labour, to extract these barnacles.... We took some back & cooked them, taste more like snails to me, nothing like crab or lobster. I've eaten all kinds of seafood, but to me these not as great as suggested... They may be popular in Europe, but I haven't seen these in local restaurants in Vancouver... maybe because taste not what's hyped up to be...

[benmaughan]

"he takes special care so to not damage the barnacles"
*proceeds to rip a fistful out of the ground*

[LearnThePVP]

I finally understand what Squidward meant when he called a customer barnacle head

[exoliv]

I travelled to Portugal many times before, and I know a friend there who is a fisher and he once brought some goosenecks from a trip and explained how difficult it was to get them. They were delicious! Most of the time expensive food isn’t that great but they were just amazing from the texture to the taste, if you get your hands on them you are very lucky.

[pausemental]

I remember I found these on the beach as little girl, I brought them home and thought they were going to live . I remember the rancid smell in my bucket after a few days. My parents knew I was a nerd and liked to explore so they allowed me to rock on, I thought I saved them 😂 because they washed ashore, I researched for years to find out what they were, as an adult I felt bad for not just throwing them back into the ocean