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5 Facts about Seafood that will leave you feeling ‘Shell-Shocked!'

Friday, August 25, 2017 : 4:08 PM

1) Scallops Can Swim!

Yes, believe it or not, scallops can in fact swim! They do this by clapping their shells quickly together, moving a jet of water past the shell hinges which propels them forward. Unlike other bivalves like mussels and clams, most scallops are free-swimming however, some do attach themselves to things or bury themselves in the sand.



Scallops have up to 100 eyes which respond to the light and dark around them and therefore, moving objects so they can manoeuvre around other objects when swimming.


2) Fish may not Have Vocal Chords but that doesn’t mean they’re silent... 

The ocean is a very noisy place... There are lots of fish known to communicate through stridulation or the process of making sounds using body parts. Fish have sonic muscles near their swim bladders or tendons in the pectoral fin which they use to communicate with others. Some fish rub or clack together their pharyngeal teeth that lie in the back of their throat or even pop their jaws to make noise. There are all kinds of clicks, grunts, pops, whistles, purrs, groans, growls, barks, hums and hoots that go on in the ocean!


Research is still being carried out to determine why fish make noises. Some experts believe fish make sounds to signal to other fish their location during group feeding. Others are believed to make noise to startle their prey or attract mates… sometimes it’s hard to tell. There is still a lot to learn.


3) Lobster shells have been used to make golf balls…

Traditional plastic-skinned golf balls that are whacked into the sea are nonetheless a source of pollution and a potential hazard to creatures of the sea. Leftover lobster shells would previously have been regarded as rubbish and thrown away into landfills. Therefore, biodegradable golf balls would be a logical solution (these do already exist!), targeted to those who wish to play golf over lochs or in the ocean from cruise ships.


 In an effort to utilise lobsters and increase the value of the fisherman’s catch, a University of Maine Professor designed and created golf balls made out of lobster shells! These dissolves when submerged in water, therefore, proving to be both eco-friendly and very cost effective. The problem is they only travel about 70% of the distance of a regular plastic golf ball, so they won't be at the U.S. Open anytime soon!


4) Shellfish purify our waters.

Shellfish are a natural water filter. Freshwater mussels feed on microalgae and thereby purify the water in a natural and environmentally friendly way. They have the ability to filter roughly 15 to 20 gallons of water each and every day. That’s a few short of a whopping 90 litres per day! Shellfish survive by filtering microscopic particles from the water by feeding on the nutrients known as phytoplankton therefore, all bivalves’ are fantastic underwater maids.



5) Salmon are expert navigators.



Salmon are extremely intelligent. When they mature salmon find their way back to the exact place which they were born to spawn. Salmon migrate for several years before returning to their birthplace, usually to the exact stream - pretty impressive right?  Guided safely home using their gifted magnetoreception skills and sense of smell, salmon are able to return to the exact location which they were born… home sweet home!


If you happen to know of any weird and wonderful fish & seafood facts, please 'le-minnow' on our social sites on Twitter - @Fishboxuk, Facebook - @FishboxUK, Instagram - @fishboxuk or even pop us an email at we would 'hake' to miss out so it would be 'cod' to hear from you, feel free to cast us a line anytime! 




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