Shellfish
Shellfish is a colloquial and
Despite the name, shellfish are not
Molluscs used as a food source by humans include many
Though some shellfish harvesting has been unsustainable, and shrimp farming has been destructive in some parts of the world, shellfish farming can be important to environmental restoration, by developing reefs, filtering water and eating biomass.
Terminology
Although the term is primarily applied to
Although their shells may differ, all shellfish are invertebrates. As non-mammalian animals that spend their entire lives in water they are "fish" in an informal sense; however, the term ”finfish" is sometimes used to distinguish fish, animals defined by having vertebrae, from shellfish in modern terminology.
The word "shellfish" is both singular and plural; the rarely used "shellfishes" is sometimes employed to distinguish among various types of shellfish.[7]
Shellfish in various cuisines
Archaeological finds have shown that humans have been making use of shellfish as a food item for hundreds of thousands of years. In the present, shellfish dishes are a feature of almost all the cuisines of the world, providing an important source of protein in many cuisines around the world, especially in the countries with coastal areas.
In Japan
In Japanese cuisine, chefs often use shellfish and their roe in different dishes. Sushi (vinegared rice, topped with other ingredients, including shellfish, fish, meat and vegetables) features both raw and cooked shellfish. Sashimi primarily consists of very fresh raw seafood, sliced into thin pieces. Both sushi and sashimi are served with soy sauce and wasabi paste (a Japanese horseradish root, a spice with extremely strong, hot flavor), thinly sliced pickled ginger root, and a simple garnish such as shiso (a kitchen herb, member of the mint family) or finely shredded daikon radish, or both.
In the United States
The
In the
In many major cities with active fishing ports, raw oyster bars are also a feature of shellfish consumption. When served freshly shucked (opened) and iced, one may find a liquid inside the shell, called the liquor. Some believe that oysters have the properties of an aphrodisiac.[9]
Inter-tidal herbivorous shellfish such as mussels and clams can help people reach a healthy balance of
Some popular dishes using shellfish:
- Ceviche
- Cioppino
- Clam chowder
- Curanto
- Fruits de mer
- Paella
- Sashimi and sushi
- Shrimp cocktail
- Lobster bisque
- She-crab soup
Religious dietary restrictions
The
Shia Islamic schools of thought vary on whether (and which types of) shellfish may be acceptable.[12] Sunni Muslims view them as halal.[13][14][15]
Allergy
Approximately 1% of the population is estimated to suffer from shellfish allergy,[16] which is more common in teenage and adult life than very early childhood.[17]
Toxic content
Some shellfish, such as whelk, contain arsenic. A sample of whelk was found to have a total content of arsenic at 15.42 mg/kg of which 1% is inorganic arsenic.[18]
Shellfish caught in Alaska can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).[19] PSP is caused by toxins namely Saxitoxins released by dinoflagellate, a type of protista (also considered algae), which are extremely poisonous (1000 times more potent than cyanide) and can lead to death by paralyzing the breathing muscles. Due to warming oceans, algae blooms have become more widespread,[20] thereby increasing the likelihood of intoxications of various types.
Ecosystem services and reef-building
Shellfish of various kinds contribute to the formation of reefs, such as when millions of oysters or mussels aggregate together. Reefs provide habitat for numerous other species, bury carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation,[21] and defend the shore against erosion, floods and waves.[22][23] Conversely, when they are destroyed or exploited, carbon can be released into the atmosphere, simultaneously increasing the likelihood of severe weather while removing the natural defence against its consequences.[21][24] In addition, some shellfish are known for filtering water, removing suspended particles and contaminants, which contributes to both quality and clarity.[25] These benefits cascade to other species that are helpful to humankind such as seagrasses.[25]
See also
References
- ^ "Shellfish Alergies". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- ^ "Shellfish climbs up the popularity ladder; the category is gaining chefs' attention for one-of-a-kind signature menu items". Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- ^ Fabricant, Florence (1998). "Sea urchin makes waves, popularity increases on American menus". Nation's Restaurant News via BNET. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- ^ "The sea urchin market in Japan". Marine Fisheries Review via BNET. 1989. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- ^ Maryland Shellfish Harvesting Areas Archived 11 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Maryland Department of the Environment
- ISBN 978-1-900289-22-1.
- ISSN 1045-4438.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- doi:10.1038/4441002d.
- ^ Leviticus 11:9–12
- ^ "Question and Answer: Meat".
- ^ "حكم أكل القواقع".
- ^ "حكم أكل " الحلزون " ، وهل يجوز طبخه حيّاً؟".
- ^ "Is Seafood Halal Or Haram? (Crab, Lobster, Shark, Octopus)". 27 April 2022.
- PMID 27613460.
- PMID 32210187.
- ^ "82/05 October 2005 Arsenic in fish and shellfish" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ "Fact sheet" (PDF). dhss.alaska.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ Meyer, Robinson (12 December 2018). "An Upheaval at the Ends of the World". The Atlantic. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ PMID 28747477.
- PMID 31189886.
- S2CID 85817134.
- ^ "Shellfish reefs: Australia's untold environmental disaster". phys.org. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ a b Ramsar (2011). "Wetlands Ecosystem Services Factsheet 5: Water Purification" (PDF). ramsar.org. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
Sources
- Pawley, Andrew (2004) "Are crustaceans shellfish? A whiff of scandal in English lexicography" Australian Style, 12 (1): 1–3.
External links
- BC Shellfish Growers Association
- East Coast Shellfish Growers Association
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
- Shellfish News
- Shellfish Gallery
- Shellfish Guide Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- Freshwater and Marine Image Bank—Shellfish[permanent dead link] at the University of Washington Libraries, Digital Collection
- Nutrition Facts for Various Shellfish