Feb 11 2008
Common cockle – the “heart shell”
The common cockle is (as its name says) a common shell in Europe. This species is of commercial interest in several countries (like in Great Brittan and Holland).
A couple of years ago mechanical harvesting was banned in Holland due to damages the vessels and the gear caused to the bottom fauna. The cockles are therefore now harvested manually.
We have cockles in Norway as well, but we do not have those large harvesting areas like the shallow banks off the coast of Holland.
The cockles above were found on sand bottom (30 cm. depth). I used my fingers to filter the sand, and it was then easy to find (and feel) the cockles. The growth lines indicate that these cockles are 5-8 years old.
The Norwegian name for common cockle is “heart shell” (translated). When you look at the photo of a live cockle below you will understand how it got its Norwegian name.
Cool how the age can be seen by the growth lines. Do you eat these?
Hi kml! Yes, you can eat them. You will find cockles as an ingredient in many seafood-recipes. I have tried to cook cockles, but I must admit that I prefer blue mussels.
kml beat me to my question….
Great, informative post!
I always learn something cool when I visit here!
Your blog warms the cockles of my heart
I tried mussels for the first time ever last fall, and LOVED them.
I have to be careful when eating seafood, because I’m allergic to shrimp… but the mussels were a wonderful experience. If I’m ever in Europe, I want to try some cockles!