2023-11-20 12:21:07
MADRID, 20 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Researchers hoping to change the name of a marine pest to a nutritious food have developed the first shipworm culture systemwhich they have renamed “naked clams.”
These long white saltwater clams are the fastest growing bivalves in the world and They can reach 30 cm long in just six months. They do it digging up scrap wood and converting it into highly nutritious protein.
The researchers found that vitamin B12 levels in naked clams were higher than in most other bivalves, and almost double the amount found in blue mussels. The report is published in the journal Sustainable Agriculture, informa Phys.org.
And with the addition of an algae-based food to the system, naked clams can be enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, nutrients essential for human health.
Shipworms have traditionally been considered a pest because they bore into any wood submerged in seawater, including boats and docks.
The researchers developed a completely closed aquaculture system that can be completely controlled, eliminating water quality and food safety issues often associated with mussel and oyster farming. And the modular design allows its use in urban environments, far from the sea.
“Naked clams taste like oysters, are very nutritious and can be produced with a really low impact on the environment,” said Dr David Willer, Henslow Research Fellow in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and first author of the report. .
He added: “Naked clam aquaculture has never been attempted before. We are growing them using wood that would otherwise end up in landfill or be recycled, to produce foods rich in protein and essential nutrients such as vitamin B12.
These creatures, scientifically called Teredinids, do not have shells, but are classified as bivalve shellfish and related to oysters and mussels.
Because naked clams put no energy into their growing shells, they grow much faster than mussels and oysters, which can take two years to reach a harvestable size.
Wild shipworms are eaten in the Philippines, either raw or battered and fried like squid. But for Western consumers, researchers believe naked clams will be more popular as a substitute for “white meat” in processed foods such as fish fingers and fishcakes.
“We urgently need alternative food sources that provide the micronutrient-rich profile of meat and fish but without the environmental cost, and our system offers a sustainable solution“said Dr. Reuben Shipway of the School of Biological and Marine Sciences at the University of Plymouth. Lead author of the report.
He added: “Switching from beef burgers to naked clam nuggets can be a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint.”
The research is a collaboration between the Universities of Cambridge and Plymouth. The team is now testing different types of wood waste and algae food in their system to optimize the growth, flavor and nutritional profile of naked clams, and is working with Cambridge Enterprise to scale up and commercialize the system.
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