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Common name - Carpet shell Clam
Scientific name - Venerupis pullastra
Average rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Visit Fishonline for the full range of options available for this species.
Consumer Information
Clams are versatile shellfish which you should only eat if they are from farmed sources (e.g. Manila or American hardshell clams) or harvested from the wild (e.g. carpet or razor clams), using sustainable manual methods such as hand gathering. They can be eaten raw, boiled, baked or fried and are most popularly made into clam chowder - a brothy soup, containing potatoes and other vegetables, and often cream. Clams, like many fish, were served in restaurants on Fridays to provide an option for Catholics who abstained from eating ‘meat’ on this day, as well as during important Christian periods such as Lent.
Summary
Avoid eating clams dredged from wild stocks. Choose clams harvested in the wild by sustainable methods only. Avoid eating undersized animals (less than 1cm) and wild clams harvested during the spawning season (May - September).
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Visit Fishonline, the website for the seafood industry, for more detailed information about this species.