LOS PERCEBEIROS DE LAXE

In the small village of Laxe, located on the Northwest coast of Galicia (called Costa da Morte, Coast of Death), a small group of fishermen (40 men and 1 woman) dedicate their lives to hunting Percebes (Goose Barnacles), Spain’s most expensive and sought after shellfish. These are probably the world’s most at-risk seafood gatherers as due to the percebe’s need for oxygen the highest quality ones grow on the most dangerous places and are most profitably harvested in the winter, when the supply is limited by the risks involved.

This is the story of a few of these percebeiros during the month of December, the most crucial of the year for them. As Christmas approaches, prices get higher (a kg could be sold up to 180 euros) and higher as well as the waves they have to face daily.

December 1st, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). The small village of Laxe, is located on the Northwest coast of Galicia (called Costa da Morte, The Coast of Death) and bases its economy on percebes’ harvesting and other fishing-related activities. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 02, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). The small port of Laxe bases its economy on percebes’ harvesting and other fishing-related activities. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 13, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). 8 am at the bar. It's the moment when the percebeiros discuss about the situation of the sea and how they can work that day. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 12, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Julio, one of the most skilled percebeiros, arrives at the "rivera". Today is the first day of harvesting but the sea seems in very bad conditions. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 12, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Julio looks at the giant waves crashing on the rocks where he's going to fish. Percebeiros have to watch carefully at the condition of the sea, a false step and they could fall into the ferocious current and die. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 20, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A percebeiro gets hit by an unexpected wave. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 12, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A group of percebeiros try to escape from an unexpected wave. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 19, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Percebes grown in the gaps between rocks and sometimes the only way to harvest them is by hand. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 12, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). "El Presidente", one of the youngest percebeiros, empties his catch in a bucket. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 19, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A percebeiro cleans a perfect sample of percebe. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 05, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). The small port of Laxe bases its economy on percebes’ harvesting and other fishing-related activities. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 13, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Julio and Feuto - a retired percebeiro - inspect the condition of the sea. It's the second day of harvesting, but not even the gale force eight and heavy rains can stop them, Christmas' time is too important. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 13, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Percebeiros secure their companions with a rope. It's the second day of harvesting, but not even the gale force eight and heavy rains can stop them, Christmas' time is too important. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 03, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). The Coast of Death is one of the most dangerous places for fishing in the world. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 20, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A percebeiro inspects a rock to find percebes. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 09, 2011 - La Coruña. A buyer inspects the quality of a box of percebes at the fish market of La Coruña. Most of the fish and sea food catch in the region is sold here. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 09, 2011 - La Coruña. Buyers discuss the price of a box of percebes at the fish market of La Coruña. Most of the fish and sea food catch in the region is sold here. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 09, 2011 - La Coruña. Detail of the wall of Paco Moinelo's office, one the most important buyers in the fish market of La Coruña. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

November 30, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A cross has been place to remember all the fishermen who died in the ocean, many of them were percebeiros. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 16, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A group of percebeiros inspects the condition of the sea. Unfortunately is another bad day, foam and big waves don't allow them to harvest in safe conditions. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 15, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Despite the bad condition of the sea, Juan and Joaquin, two of younger and skilled percebeiros, decide to go out and harvest anyway, Christmas' time is too important. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 15, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A moment of rest for Juan and Joaquin, two of younger and skilled percebeiros. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 13, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Detail of the torn shoes of a percebeiro. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 15, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Juan and Joaquin, two of younger and skilled percebeiros, try to escape from a unexpected wave. Despite the bad condition of the sea, they decided to go out and harvest anyway. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 16, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). "Feuto" - a retired percebeiros - observes his son finding his way on the cliff. He can't stay home when the sea is in bad conditions and he stays all the time with his son. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 12, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Detail of the torn wetsuit of a percebeiro. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 17, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Percebeiros talk outside the bar of the port. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 17, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Julio reads an article on the local newspaper about the percebeiros dealing with the bad conditions of the sea of the previous days. The title says "Risking the life for 2 kg of percebes". © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 19, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A group of percebeiros talks minutes before starting the harvesting. After a week of rain and huge waves, the sun is shining and the percebeiros are in a very good mood. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 19, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Percebeiros try to harvest together to prevent any accident as even when the weather is good, the sea is extremely dangerous in this part of the coast. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 19, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Julio cleans a perfect sample of percebe. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 20, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). A group of percebeiros gets hit by an unexpected wave. Even when the weather is good, the sea is extremely dangerous in this part of the coast. © Thomas Cristofoletti 2011

December 20, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Julio checks his daily catch. Due to the sea tides, sometimes the percebeiros need to harvest with artificial light. © Thomas Cristofoletti

December 20, 2011 - Laxe (La Coruña). Julio is ready to go back home with his daily catch. Due to the sea tides, sometimes the percebeiros need to harvest with artificial light. © Thomas Cristofoletti