Molluscs
Clams (Venerupis Pullastra)
This mollusc is pale cream-coloured. Unlike other species of clams it feeds by filtering sea water in through a siphon located all along its shell. Clams typically reside burrowed at a depth of 25 to 30cm. They are harvested using small boats for dredging or by digging. This is the most fragile of all the clam species. Several factors are important for it to grow, such as water quality, algae elimination, starfish, predator control and so on.
Grooved Carpet Shells (Tapes Decussatus)
The shell of this mollusc has radial and concentric lines or "grooves" which form checks. (It is thus also known as the chequered carpet shell). The colour of the shell depends on the substrate where it grows. They usually reside burrowed at a depth of between 15 and 30cm. They are captured by digging, or by finding the wholes left by their siphons in the sand. This species are harvested in areas designated for its culture or in natural sand banks.
Japanese Carpet Shells (Tapes Philippinarum)
This mollusc has a shell with visible ridges and two siphons joined at the middle, unlike other kinds of its species. It is usually dark in colour. It grows very quickly which results in a lower market price compared with other shellfish.
Cockles (Cerastoderma Edule)
The cockle shell is almost circular or heart-shaped with radiating ribs. They live just under the bottom, on sand, mud and gravel bottoms. They feed on marine plankton and are harvested by hand, using rakes or spades or dredging.
Mussels (Mytilus Galloprovincialis)
A bivalve mollusc with two triangular-shaped shells rounded at the end. The shell is black in colour while inside, the meat is orange. It is found in shallow waters. Traditional mussel culture is in rafts. The mussel seed is placed on ropes that hang from the floating rafts and there they will remain completely submerged until they reach full size. The commercialization of mussels in Galicia each year makes up half of the total production of mussels in the world.
Razor Shells (Ensis Arcuatus)
Razor shells are also a bivalve with an elongated narrow shell. It is shiny and shaped like a razor knife. They feed off plankton. They are found burrowed in the sand so they are harvested by diving or using the more traditional method of throwing salt in the hole where they are. They are sold fresh, vacuum paced, in tins and so on.
Oysters (Ostrea Edulis)
The oyster is a bivalve mollusc which varies in shape but is usually round. It consists of two shells, one concave and the other flat. It measures between 6 and 9cm. It feeds on phytoplankton and microscopic algae. They are found burrowed in the sand or between the rocks. Oyster culture is similar to that of the mussel, in rafts.
Great Atlantic Scallop (Pecten Maximus)
This scallop is a bivalve mollusc with one concave shell and the other flat with two small symmetric wings located at the hinge of the shell. It feeds on phytoplankton and suspended organic particles. They are caught using a method called "scallop dredging". The Galician scallop (Pecten jacobaeus) is quite famous as it is the symbol of the pilgrims who go to Santiago de Compostela.
Variegated Scallop (Chlamys Varia)
This smaller scallop is a bivalve mollusc and its shell is made up of two concave shells. It is usually purple in colour and it is found adhered to rocks where they move in search of food. It lives in areas near the shoreline at depth of up to 80m. Although rafts are now being used in its culture, until now this species was captured using boats.