As reported in the Chilean newspaper El Llanquihue, the picoroco could be a very profitable product. A related barnacle specie from Spain goes for prices between US$ 14 and $70 per kilogram. This, coupled with the fact that wild stocks in Chile are on the decline, has made researchers look at the feasibility of cultivating the seafood product.

Daniel López-Stefoni, a Doctor in Biological Sciences, with a focus in Ecology, has been studying the crustacean for more than 15 years. He is heading up the idea of conducting a project to analyse the commercial possibilities of picoroco farming.

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