Species profile
Buoy Barnacle
Dosima fascicularis
At a glance
Buoy Barnacle (Dosima fascicularis) is a barnacle present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 690 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Maine, and Massachusetts the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Unlike rock-clinging barnacles, it secretes a bubbly foam float and drifts the open ocean its entire life.
- It never attaches to a hard substrate as an adult, relying entirely on its self-made float.
- Often found clustered on feathers, tar balls, by-the-wind sailor jellyfish, or plastic debris.
- Found worldwide wherever ocean surface currents concentrate floating material into drift lines.
- Like all barnacles, it is a crustacean — more closely related to crabs and shrimp than to clams.
Where Buoy Barnacle are seen
Background
Dosima fascicularis, the buoy barnacle, is "the most specialised pleustonic goose barnacle" species. It hangs downwards from the water surface, held up by a float of its own construction, and is carried along by ocean currents.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Buoy Barnacle article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other barnacles on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.