November 30, 2023 — A University of Cambridge study has found that shipworms, or naked clams – which have historically been considered by many in the seafood industry to be a nuisance due to their ability to bore through the wood of ships, piers, and docks – can be turned into a nutritious source of protein for human consumption using an enclosed aquaculture system.
The study, titled “Naked clams to open a new sector in sustainable nutritious food production,” found that shipworms are the world’s fastest-growing bivalve and contain high levels of vitamin B12. The study’s authors said using the bivalve as seafood offers a rebrand for the traditionally recognized sea pest.