Buy Shellfish Online

The simple answer is that you can eat most shellfish, and indeed they are both delicious and extremely good for you.

They are a super healthy source of protein, low in calories and unhealthy fats and high in healthy Omega 3 fats and essential vitamins and minerals.

The 2 main categories of shellfish

Molluscs which have an outer shell and include the following:

• Mussels
• Oysters
• Scallops
• Cockles
• Clams

Crustacean which includes the following

• Lobster
• Crab
• Tiger Prawns
• Atlantic Prawns

We offer a full range of sustainable shellfish for you to enjoy, and lots of ‘how to’ cooking guides and [recipe inspiration (https://www.fishforthought.co.uk/recipes/shellfish) to help you enjoy these amazing fish.

The first 2 questions to ask when buying shellfish are:

• Where does it come from?
• What was the catch method?

We recommend the following approach to each species:

1. Mussels

You can source these live and it is important they are then cooked from live. To check to see if they are alive, the shells should close up when gently tapped. Look out for mussels that don’t close or have badly damaged shells - these should all be discarded.

Once cooked mussels can be frozen to be enjoyed later.

2. Oysters

When buying live oysters make sure the shells are tightly closed and there should be no smell when you shuck them open. Once the meats are cut free these can be enjoyed fresh or cooked. If eating them fresh they must be consumed straight after shucking.

3. Scallops

We only recommend only diver-caught scallops and that you avoid any that are dredged. Dredging is by its very nature one of the most damaging forms of fishing there is.

Fresh scallops should be bright and firm to the touch. Scallops can be frozen straight after they are cut out of the shell.

4. Cockles

You can source these live and it is important they are then cooked from live. To check to see if they are alive, the shells should close up when gently tapped. Look out for cockles that don’t close or have badly damaged shells - these should all be discarded.

Once cooked cockles can be frozen to be enjoyed later.

5. Clams

You can source these live and it is important they are then cooked from live. To check to see if they are alive, the shells should close up when gently tapped. Look out for clams that don’t close or have badly damaged shells - these should all be discarded.

Once cooked clams can be frozen to be enjoyed later.

6. Lobster

When looking for lobster you should only buy British Lobster caught in pots - in doing so you are choosing the most sustainable lobster and supporting the vital fishing communities around our coast. And of course Cornish Lobster, which we specialise in, is the absolute best of the best!

Lobster should be cooked immediately after being humanely dispatched and enjoyed within 5 days.

7. Crab

When looking for Crab you should only buy British Crab caught in pots - in doing so you are choosing the most sustainable Crab and supporting the vital fishing communities around our coast. And of course Cornish Crab, which we specialise in, is the absolute best of the best!

Crab should be cooked immediately after being humanely dispatched and enjoyed within 5 days.

8. Tiger Prawns

We are proud to be the first and still one of the only UK fishmongers to BAN imported farmed tiger prawns from South East Asia. The farming there damages important mangrove swamp environments, is badly regulated and has a long reputation for unacceptable standards for workers.

When you add in the fact the eyestalk ablation (the deliberate plucking out of an eye) is commonplace in the hatcheries that produce the baby prawns and the fact that they then are transported across the world, you will understand why we took this decision.

Instead we offer Wild Argentinian Prawns which although imported are a much more sustainable alternative.

We also champion a pioneering farmed British Prawn when available - watch this space.

It is also better to avoid fresh prawns as they degrade quickly once dead and as a product they are better frozen at source, as all of the prawns we offer are.

10. Atlantic Prawns

We offer wild shell on and shelled cooked Atlantic Prawns, from fisheries that are certified as sustainable.

Both products are individually frozen at source.

If you have a shellfish allergy, then you must avoid eating all types of shellfish, including both crustaceans and molluscs.

If you have any concerns about your allergy, then please consult your doctor or dietician before trying any of these products live or cooked.