BUCCINIDAE
Whelks

Some Whelk species are NOT EDIBLE

Caution read the red notes in the next column. Be sure you know what species of whelk is safe to eat and when its is indeed safe to consume that whelk.

For inedible species I have listed, go to HERE

• Whelks and moonsnails feed on bivalve molluscs such as mussels, clams and oysters. These prey species accumulate toxins from certain algae in the water which they feed on. These toxins are known as phytotoxins and result in paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning, among other things. When whelks feed on contaminated prey some of the toxins are passed on to whelks where they concentrate in the digestive gland. The foot (muscle) part of the animals is rarely contaminated directly, although if the digestive gland is ruptured in processing the contents can leach into the foot. When areas are closed to harvesting shellfish due to PSP, whelk fishing will also be prohibited due to this transfer. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)

• Another class of toxins found in some whelks are the neurotoxins. Some species of whelk stun their prey with a poison in order to render their prey helpless. These toxins affect the nervous system of both the shellfish prey and humans who eat venomous whelks. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)

• From a Conch-L source: There is a substance called "saxitoxin" which accounts for human illness following the consumption of certain Neptunea species occurring in Japanese waters. It is localized in the salivary glands of these snails.

• Species List:

• Species List:

Dr. David Campbell

• Babylonia areolata
  (Link, HF, 1807)

Areola Babylon, Spotted Babylon

• Babylonia japonica
  (Reeve,1842)

Japanese Babylon, Ivory Shell

• Babylonia spirata

• Buccinum angulossum
  (Gray, J.E., 1839)
  

Angular Whelk, Angulate Buccinum

• Buccinum plectrum
  (Stimpson,
  1865)

Sinuous whelk

• Species has potential interest on the West Coast of Canada

• Buccinum scalariforme
  (Møller, H.P.C., 1842 )

Silky Buccinum

• Buccinum undatum
  (Linnaeus,1758)

English:Common Northern Whelk, Waved Whelk, French: bulot; Belgian: escargot de Bruxelles

• "A new fishery for whelks Buccinum undatum, is about to take form along the Swedish West Coast. Specialized commercial fisheries for sea snails (mainly Buccinum spp. and Neptunea spp.) using baited traps can be found at various locations throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The main markets are in the Far East..." (This is quoted from from a 1999 web site)
• There is a significant fishery, which uses traps, for common whelks. The majority of the whelks are exported to the far east. Masses of lentil shaped eggs are often found attached to subtidal rocks, stones or shells. Empty egg masses, known as 'sea wash balls', are often found on the strandline and are sometimes mistaken for sponges.
• Fisheries & Oceans Canada: 1998 Eastern Nova Scotia Whelk/Moon Snail Integrated Fishery Management Plan;Scotia Fundy Fisheries, Maritime Region
• Department of Marine ResourcesThere is a newly emerging fishery in the Gulf of Maine targeting the waved or common whelk (Buccinum undatum). This is a common subtidal species along the western Atlantic coast from Labrador to New Jersey. Whelks in Maine have traditionally been landed as an incidental by-catch of the lobster fishery, with only a handful of harvesters utilizing specially designed whelk traps in a directed effort. The product is typically shipped live for mostly ethnic (oriental) markets in Boston and New York City.

• Colus stimpsoni (Morch, 1867)

Stimpson's whelk

• Fisheries & Oceans Canada: Permitted as a bycatch in Atlantic Canada commercial trap fisheries for the waved whelk, Buccinum undatum.
• Department of Marine Resources
  

• Fusitriton oregonensis
  (Redfield, 1846)

• State Shell of Oregon

• Kelletia kelletii
  (Forbes, 1850)

Kellet's whelk

• Typically sold alive in fresh seafood markets in southern California

• Neptunea aminata
  (Dall, 1889)

Alaska Neptune; Japan: Maru-ezobora

• Species has potential interest on the West Coast of Canada

• Neptunea arthritica
  (Bernardi, M., 1857)

Arthritic Neptune

• Neptunea humboldtiana
  (Röding, 1798 )

• Neptunea heros
  (Gray, 1850)

Heros Neptune

• Historically harvested in Alaska in the eastern Bering Sea
  (Shimek, 1984 citing MacIntosh, 1978). This is a deep, cold water species.
  

• Neptunea intersculpta
  (Sowerby III, 1899)

Double Sculptured Neptune

• This species is harvested in the Russian fishery: (Pearce and Thorson, 1967)

• Neptunea intersculpta pribiloffensis (Dall, W.H., 1919)
  

Pribiloff Neptune

• Neptunea lyrata
  (Gmelin, 1791)

Wrinkle Whelk

• Historically harvested in Alaska in the eastern Bering Sea
  (Shimek, 1984 citing MacIntosh, 1978). This is a deep, cold water species.
• Species has potential interest on the West Coast of Canada
  

• Neptunea lyrata decemcostata
  (Say, 1826)

New England/Brown Corded Neptune

• Massachusetts State Shell

• Neptunea phoenicia
  (Dall, 1919)

• Species has potential interest on the West Coast of Canada

• Neptunea polycostata
  (Scarlato,1955)

Ezo Neptune

• Neptunea pribiloffensis
  (Dall, 1919)
  

Pribiloff whelk

• Species has potential interest on the West Coast of Canada

• Neptunea smirnia
  (Dall, 1919)

Smirna Neptune

• Species has potential interest on the West Coast of Canada

• Neptunea tabulata
  (Baird, W., 1863)

Tabled Neptune

• Species has potential interest on the West Coast of Canada

• Neptunea ventricosa
  (Gmelin, J.F., 1791)

Fat Neptune

• Historically harvested in Alaska in the eastern Bering Sea
  (Shimek, 1984 citing MacIntosh, 1978). This is a deep, cold water species.