Barny (29) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.

Luis (34) has collected around 20 kilos of mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in about three hours. One kilo will be sold for around 4 soles (~1 dollar) and will be transported to Lima or other countries.

Barny (29) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.
Behind Barny there is a lighthouse, where surfers gather for famous waves.

A lighthouse stands in a remote Pacasmayo beach, where surfers from all around the world gather for famous waves.

Barny (29) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.

Barny (29) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Barny uses stone belt to keep him underwater. He says he prefers using stones instead of weight belt because it's cheaper and he doesn't have to worry about loosing it.

Luis (34) wades into the ocean to collect mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.

Luis (34) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Luis uses stone belt to keep him underwater. He says he prefers using stones instead of weight belt because it's cheaper and he doesn't have to worry about loosing it.

Mococho (the brown seaweed) is used for Peru's traditional ceviche and also for medicine. One kilo is sold for 3-4 soles (around one dollar). In two hours men and women can collect 5-20 kilos of mococho.

Luis (34) has collected around 20 kilos of mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in about three hours. One kilo will be sold for around one dollar and will be transported to Lima or other countries.

Claudio (30) has collected around 20 kilos of mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in about three hours. He also found an octopus which will be used for ceviche for dinner.

Luis hand's are dried out after three hours in the salty water.

Claudio (30) rests on the shore and eating the mococho seaweed he has been collecting for three hours.

A lighthouse stands in a remote Pacasmayo beach, where surfers from all around the world gather for famous waves.

Luis uses old rubber shoes to protect his feet while searching the shoreline for seaweed.

Luis, Barny and Claudio rest on the shore after a three hour seaweed picking. They come to the beach everyday around 10am and work here until 1pm. They say the job is quite easy and they can make enough money to support their families.

Barney checks out the octopus Claudio caught while collecting seaweed. It will be used for Ceviche.

Barny collected around 20 kilograms of mocacho seaweed and he will get around 80 soles (~26 dollars) for it.

Brothers Claudio and Luis change clothes after seaweed picking in the ocean.

Barny, Claudio and Luis ride motorbikes to get around and to carry their seaweed.

Brothers Claudio and Luis and their friend Barny change clothes while the bag of seaweed in already at the back of the motorbike.

Brothers Claudio and Luis and their friend Barny are change into dry clothes after seaweed picking in the ocean.

Seaweed collectors work along the shore and remind sea animals rising from the water to breath in some air and diving back into the ocean.

Alberto (26) fixes the net bag before going into the ocean for the seaweed.

Alberto fixes the net bag while Marilu and her friends are eating fried corn and talk before the work.

Marilu and her friends sit on the beach before work. They are waiting for higher tide before getting into the water.

Alberto fixes the net bag before going into the ocean for the seaweed, meanwhile his friends are eating fried corn - a popular snack in Peru.

Seaweed collectors wait for high tide before getting into the water.

Barny sits on the beach before going into the ocean.

A local woman comes to the beach to collect seaweed.

Marilu (47) dresses up before getting into the ocean. She wears old sneakers to protect her feet while in the water.

Marilu (47) and her friend dress up before getting into the ocean.They hand net bags on their waists to put the seaweed in.

A local woman dresses up before getting into the ocean.

While locals work in the ocean collecting mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru, foreigners come here in search of waves. Surfing and windsurfing conditions are perfect in the area attracting travellerss from Australia, France, Brasil, Argentina and other countries.

Marilu (47) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.
Marilu doesn't have a mask that would help to see underwater, so she just covers herself from the sun and goes into the water to collect seaweed gropingly. She spends 2-3 hours in the water everyday over 15 years to later sell the seaweed and support her family with three children.

Marilu (47) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.
Marilu doesn't have a mask that would help to see underwater, so she just covers herself from the sun and goes into the water to collect seaweed gropingly. She spends 2-3 hours in the water everyday over 15 years to later sell the seaweed and support her family with three children.

Marilu (47) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.
Marilu doesn't have a mask that would help to see underwater, so she just covers herself from the sun and goes into the water to collect seaweed gropingly. She spends 2-3 hours in the water everyday over 15 years to later sell the seaweed and support her family with three children.

A local woman collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru.

Marilu (47) collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru. Mococho is used for Per's traditional ceviche and also for medicine.
Marilu doesn't have a mask that would help to see underwater, so she just covers herself from the sun and goes into the water to collect seaweed gropingly. She spends 2-3 hours in the water everyday over 15 years to later sell the seaweed and support her family with three children.

A local woman collects mococho (also called cochayuyo) seaweed in Pacasmayo, Peru.