Goose neck barnacle, goose-necked barnacle, goose barnacle, leaf barnacle • Pollicipes polymerus • Heiltsuk/Haíɫzaqv - X̌áyáq̓
Bottom: Nakwakto goose neck barnacles in a sea cave at low tide on a west-facing beach, Calvert Island. Photos by Becky Segal. Top photos by Kelly Fretwell (left) and Sara Wickham.
Identification
The goose neck barnacle is one of the more distinct-looking creatures found in the intertidal. This crustacean bears several whitish protective plates, including 5 large plates and numerous smaller ones. The barnacle attaches to substrates via a stalk (peduncle) that varies in length. The body of the barnacle can be up to 4.5 cm long, while the stalk can get to 15 cm. The flesh of this species is generally a more muted dark brown colour, but the Nakwakto variety is bright red due to the haemoglobin in the animal's blood: this variety found in the subtidal and areas not exposed to sun, meaning it does not produce the protective pigment found in sun-exposed goose neck barnacles and which masks the red colour.
Habitat & Range
Like most barnacles, this species dwells in the intertidal and subtidal on open, wave-exposed coasts to depths of 30 m or more. It has been reported growing on the skin of humpback whales as well. The goose neck barnacle is found on coastlines from southeastern Alaska to Baja California, Mexico, and possibly further south. A similar species, Pollicipes pollicipes, is found on the western shores of Europe and northern Africa.
Similar Species
The pelagic goose barnacle (Lepas anatifera) and Hill's goose is often called similar common names as the goose neck barnacle, but has many fewer plates and is found on free-floating objects in the open ocean.
Human Uses
Goose neck barnacles are edible — the flesh inside the stalk tastes similar to lobster — and have long been harvested by coastal First Nations. Currently the only commercial fishery in North America is found on Vancouver Island; this fishery is co-managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation, and is considered sustainable by Ocean Wise. The similar P. pollicipes is harvested in Spain and Portugal, where it is considered a delicacy and overharvesting and poaching are concerns, leading to imports from BC. Gooseneck barnacle harvesting has typically been considered to be dangerous work, as the barnacles prefer high energy rocky sites — though many consider the high price the barnacles garner worth the risk and effort. The harvesting conditions were featured in BBC's Human Planet series, in the episode 'Oceans - Into the Blue', as well as in the PBS publication 'Made in Spain'. A video clip of the BBC episode is available here and here, and a segment of the PBS show can be found here.
Click here for a Globe and Mail article about the BC gooseneck barnacle fishery.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/48786-Pollicipes-polymerus
The goose neck barnacle is one of the more distinct-looking creatures found in the intertidal. This crustacean bears several whitish protective plates, including 5 large plates and numerous smaller ones. The barnacle attaches to substrates via a stalk (peduncle) that varies in length. The body of the barnacle can be up to 4.5 cm long, while the stalk can get to 15 cm. The flesh of this species is generally a more muted dark brown colour, but the Nakwakto variety is bright red due to the haemoglobin in the animal's blood: this variety found in the subtidal and areas not exposed to sun, meaning it does not produce the protective pigment found in sun-exposed goose neck barnacles and which masks the red colour.
Habitat & Range
Like most barnacles, this species dwells in the intertidal and subtidal on open, wave-exposed coasts to depths of 30 m or more. It has been reported growing on the skin of humpback whales as well. The goose neck barnacle is found on coastlines from southeastern Alaska to Baja California, Mexico, and possibly further south. A similar species, Pollicipes pollicipes, is found on the western shores of Europe and northern Africa.
Similar Species
The pelagic goose barnacle (Lepas anatifera) and Hill's goose is often called similar common names as the goose neck barnacle, but has many fewer plates and is found on free-floating objects in the open ocean.
Human Uses
Goose neck barnacles are edible — the flesh inside the stalk tastes similar to lobster — and have long been harvested by coastal First Nations. Currently the only commercial fishery in North America is found on Vancouver Island; this fishery is co-managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation, and is considered sustainable by Ocean Wise. The similar P. pollicipes is harvested in Spain and Portugal, where it is considered a delicacy and overharvesting and poaching are concerns, leading to imports from BC. Gooseneck barnacle harvesting has typically been considered to be dangerous work, as the barnacles prefer high energy rocky sites — though many consider the high price the barnacles garner worth the risk and effort. The harvesting conditions were featured in BBC's Human Planet series, in the episode 'Oceans - Into the Blue', as well as in the PBS publication 'Made in Spain'. A video clip of the BBC episode is available here and here, and a segment of the PBS show can be found here.
Click here for a Globe and Mail article about the BC gooseneck barnacle fishery.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/48786-Pollicipes-polymerus
References
Harbo, R. M. (1999). Whelks to whales: Coastal marine life of the Pacific Northwest. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P. 85.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Pollicipes (Goose Barnacle). Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring: Trends and Synthesis. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. Accessed 05/01/2016.
Pollicipes polymerus. Race Rocks Taxonomy. Accessed 29/03/2013.
Schiller, L. (2015). Leaf Barnacle (Gooseneck barnacle) Pollicipes polymerus. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2013).
Harbo, R. M. (1999). Whelks to whales: Coastal marine life of the Pacific Northwest. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing. P. 85.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Pollicipes (Goose Barnacle). Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring: Trends and Synthesis. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. Accessed 05/01/2016.
Pollicipes polymerus. Race Rocks Taxonomy. Accessed 29/03/2013.
Schiller, L. (2015). Leaf Barnacle (Gooseneck barnacle) Pollicipes polymerus. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2013).