Your Local Fisherman Friend
Daredevil fisherman Bruno Dias braves the rough seas and craggy rocks of the Vila do Bispo coastline in order to harvest Perceves.
Now he has opened a shop in Lagos to sell his catch as well as other seafood sourced from the Algarve including crab, lobster, sea urchins and whelks.
There is a huge photo on the wall of his shop showing Bruno perched on a jagged rock with wild seas around him, he tells me; “we are currently doing a photoshoot to promote the fishing of Perceves for the festival in September.”
The English name for these sea creatures is the Goose Barnacle. They are filter-feeding crustaceans that live attached to hard surfaces and in Portugal and Spain are a great delicacy.
Along with some friends, Bruno is organising the Vila Do Bispo Perceves festival which will take place on the 8th, 9th and 10th of September in order to increase awareness of the delicious seafood. There will be music and food stands so you can sample the fisherman´s produce for yourself.
Bruno is following in a family tradition as his Grandfather was a fisherman out of Sagres harbour all his life, his father was also a fisherman before changing career to become a policeman. Now Bruno tries to fish whenever he can and is a joint owner of a fishing vessel. He is a member of the Association of Fisherman of Perceves and is also focused on their preservation.
He explains; “The 15th September to 1st December is also a defensive time when you are not allowed to catch the creatures in order to let them replenish and from the 15th December to the end of February you are only allowed to catch 10 kilos per day.”
The maximum legal catch per day for the rest of the year is 15 kilos, however, it is not always possible to catch as much as you are at the mercy of the seas and tide. It is a dangerous profession, you need to wear a protective wetsuit to climb the rocks and Bruno has been washed off and been badly cut.
It will cost you between €20 and €35 for a kilo of Perceves depending on the size and quality. To cook them you boil a pan of water with salt and add them to the water and bring it back to the boil, then cook for 30 seconds. To eat, the claw is pinched between thumb and finger and the inner tube pulled out of the scaly case, allowing you to eat the flesh. It tastes of the sea and is deliciously salty.
If you are nervous about cooking seafood Bruno will boil Perceves, lobster and crabs for you and he speaks excellent English. His shop is open from 10- 13 30 and 15 00 - 20 00 and it is located near the ball roundabout in Lagos.
If you are looking to find a local friendly fish supplier then I urge you to seek out Bruno and support this new local enterprise.
O Perceve Mariscos
Rua Capitão Salgueiro Maia Lote 8 Loja A, Lagos, Portugal
925 376 643
http://cm-viladobispo.pt/pt/agenda/1590/festival-do-percebe.aspx
