Whelk

Whelks are marine gastropods found in cool coastal waters around the world. Their meat is dense and slightly rubbery with a clean, oceanic taste that sits somewhere between clam and octopus.

While more common in European and Asian cuisines — boiled and served with vinegar in British seaside towns, or sliced into Korean banchan — whelks are harvested in Australian waters too. They work well in seafood salads, stir-fries, or simply steamed with butter and garlic.

They’re one of the more sustainable shellfish options, typically caught in baited pots that cause minimal habitat disruption.