This shellfish has a globular shell and can be identified by being slightly oblique. It tends to have a grey, yellow and whitish colour with some darker stripes. The diameter ranges from about 4-cm. It resides in slimy waters and is caught with the take during the whole year.  It’s predominantly appreciated for it’s pulp sensation.

The Ensis species live in clean sand on exposed beaches. They are medium sized and congregate in high numbers around Scotland. They are found to dig very rapidly. The shells are thin, long and parallel-sided. The shame resembles a straight razor (hence the given name) or even a closed jack-knife.  Although they have this appearance, the shells in this species are fragile and can be easily damaged when they dig for other clams.

This mytilus edulis (also known as the blue mussel) is a medium-sized edible mussel from the Mytilldae family. They mostly occupy both coasts of the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and the north pacific. The shape of the shell is triangular with round edges. The shell is very smooth with sculpturing of fine concentric growth lines. It’s colours are purple, blue or sometimes brown. Occasionally, they have radial stripes. This type of mussel is semi-sessile, having the ability to detach and reattach to the surface allowing the mollusc to re-position itself.

The mytilus galloprovincialis (also known as the mediterranean mussel) is closely related to the mytilus edulis. In Europe, Mytilus galloprovincialis is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, and on the Atlantic coasts, in Portugal, north to France and the British Isles and Norway. Recently this species has also been found in the European Arctic including northern Norway and Svalbard. In the northern Pacific the species is found along the coast of California, where it was introduced from Europe by human activity in the early 20th century, and also in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. This animal grows up to 140 mm in length. It is a smooth-shelled mussel with a slightly broader base than that of the black mussel.

The Crassostrea Gigas was initially introduce in Cornwall, Essex & Wales. It is mostly farmed throughout England, Scotland & Wales but has also established populations in various other global regions. This can be seen in Europe, Norway, Spain, Portugal and Atlantic Coast. The shell can grow up to 18cm long. It can appear with a white to yellowish colour with blueish grey. The shell often has deep purple sections/patches. It can be found on the lower shore and shallow suborbital areas.

Scallops are a cosmopolitan family of bivalves which are found in all of the world’s oceans, although never in freshwater. Although they are all over the world, the largest number of species are found living in the Indo-Pacific region. Most species live in relatively shallow waters from the low tide line to 100 meters, while others prefer much deeper water. Although some species only live in very narrow environments, most are opportunistic and can live under a wide variety of conditions. Scallops can be found living within, upon, or under either rocks, coral, rubble, sea grass, kelp, sand, or mud. Most scallops begin their lives as byssally attached juveniles, an ability that some retain throughout their lives while others grow into free living adults.

Latine Name: Paphies donacina

Common name: New Zealand Telline

Harvested from the low tide zone, 2 to 4 metres, the Tua Tua has a smooth clean shell and 33% meat to shell ratio. The smooth low profile shell is cream to light moss in colour. It has a distinctive mild, sweet ‘ocean spray’ flavour and a rich, creamy texture. Well suited to both raw and cooked preparations, the Tua Tua is especially suited to dishes consisting of a full flavour. Highly regarded by the local Maori people as a culinary delight, it is superb eating.

TASTE PROFILE

The Tua Tua exhibits a delicate, sweet aroma of fresh kelp and toasted nori. The flavour of the raw clam is lightly oceanic with clean citrus notes. Cooked, the clam has a range of savoury characteristics, reminiscent of lightly smoked fish and Japanese soy.

GRADES

LARGE Approx 14-16 pieces per kg

MEDIUM Approx 20-24 pieces per kg

SMALL Approx 45-50 pieces per kg