Editing Shellfish (section)

{{short description|Culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
[[File:Oysters p1040741.jpg|thumb|right|Raw oysters opened and presented on a plate]]
[[File:Cocktail 1 bg 060702.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Prawn cocktail|shrimp cocktail]]]]
'''Shellfish''', in colloquial and [[fisheries]] usage, are [[exoskeleton]]-bearing [[Aquatic animal|aquatic]] [[invertebrate]]s used as [[Human food|food]], including various species of [[Mollusca|mollusc]]s, [[crustacean]]s, and [[echinoderm]]s. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from [[Seawater|saltwater]] environments, some are found in [[freshwater]]. In addition, a few species of [[land crabs]] are eaten, for example ''[[Cardisoma guanhumi]]'' in the [[Caribbean]].  Shellfish are among the most common [[food allergy|food allergens]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Shellfish Alergies | url = http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/shellfish_allergies/hic_shellfish_allergies.aspx | publisher = [[Cleveland Clinic]] | access-date = 2009-08-25}}</ref>

Despite the name, shell''fish'' are not [[fish]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-02 |title=Shellfish Reefs |url=https://www.themarinediaries.com/tmd-blog/one-fish-two-fish-three-fish-shellfish |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=The Marine Diaries |language=en-GB}}</ref> Most shellfish are [[Trophic level|low]] on the [[food chain]] and eat a diet composed primarily of [[phytoplankton]] and [[zooplankton]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Manual on the Production and Use of Live Food for Aquaculture | url = http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/W3732E/w3732e02.htm  | publisher = [[Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]] | access-date = 2009-08-25}}</ref> Many varieties of shellfish, and [[crustacean]]s in particular, are actually closely related to [[insects]] and [[arachnids]]; crustaceans make up one of the main [[Subphylum|subphyla]] of the phylum [[Arthropoda]]. [[Molluscs]] include [[cephalopods]] (squids, octopuses, cuttlefish) and [[bivalves]] (clams, oysters), as well as [[gastropods]] (aquatic species such as [[whelks]] and winkles; land species such as snails and slugs).

Molluscs used as a food source by humans include many [[species]] of [[clam]]s, [[Mussel#As food|mussel]]s, [[oyster]]s, [[Periwinkle (mollusc)|winkle]]s, and [[scallop]]s. Some crustaceans that are commonly eaten are [[Shrimp and prawn as food|shrimp]], [[Lobster meat|lobster]]s, [[Crayfish as food|crayfish]], [[Crab meat|crab]]s and [[barnacle]]s.<ref>{{cite web | title = Shellfish climbs up the popularity ladder; the category is gaining chefs' attention for one-of-a-kind signature menu items | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-85675992.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105143157/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-85675992.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2012-11-05 | access-date = 2009-08-25}}</ref> [[Echinoderm]]s are not as frequently harvested for food as molluscs and crustaceans; however, [[Sea urchin#As food|sea urchin]] [[gonads]] are quite popular in many parts of the world, where the live delicacy is harder to transport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sea urchin makes waves, popularity increases on American menus |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n34_v32/ai_21072930/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524204135/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n34_v32/ai_21072930/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-05-24 |publisher=[[Nation's Restaurant News]] via [[BNET]] |access-date=2009-08-25 |first=Florence |last=Fabricant |year=1998 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The sea urchin market in Japan |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3089/is_n3_v51/ai_9071424/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524204144/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3089/is_n3_v51/ai_9071424/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-05-24 |publisher=Marine Fisheries Review via [[BNET]] |access-date=2009-08-25 |year=1989 }}</ref>

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.