Cockles - whole

Shelled cockles are unbelievably convenient compared with whole. But sometimes you want to make a statement. So here you go but please note...

These are very difficult to process. Only The Fish Society would sell this item. The edges of the shells tend to crumble if you don't handle them carefully. And if you can't cope with a bit of grit inside, we suggest you move on. We have discovered that a grit-free firm-shelled frozen cockle is a fantasy. 

But they look great and make a statement. And of grit, there is truly only a bit.

Sustainability - our rating 6/10

Our cockles come from the Wadden Sea (the section of the North Sea bordering Holland and Denmark plus a bit of Germany) and from Limfjord in northern Denmark. In both areas, there is plenty fishing activity monitoring by academic and fisheries organisations, with non-fishing months and quotas to prevent radical overfishing. However, there has been no formal endorsement by the Marine Stewardship Council or similar bodies. There is some concern about how climate change might affect stocks (as is the case with most shellfish).