Cockles and mussels alive, alive o!

[Big Rod]

I know it depends on exactly where you are but I was wondering if, bye and large, it's safe to pick your own seafood from UK shores, take them home and cook 'em up?

Or if you don't know, maybe you could point me in the right direction.

Edited by Big Rod on Tuesday 26th August 16:26

[Ganglandboss]

:awaits-the-inevitable:

[Timmy35]

Big Rod said:

I know it depends on exactly where you are but I was wondering if, bye and large, it's safe to pick your own seafood from UK shores, take them home and cook 'em up?

Or if you don't know, maybe you could point me in the right direction.

Edited by Big Rod on Tuesday 26th August 16:26

Of course it is.

[Big Rod]

Inevitable what?

[Big Rod]

Timmy35 said:

Of course it is.

You sure?

[_Batty_]

cockle picking is the only sport the Chinese didn't win gold in, so im sure you'll be fine

[Ganglandboss]

Big Rod said:

Inevitable what?

Chinese cockle picker jokes!

[captainzep]

Big Rod said:

I know it depends on exactly where you are but I was wondering if, bye and large, it's safe to pick your own seafood from UK shores, take them home and cook 'em up?

Or if you don't know, maybe you could point me in the right direction.

Edited by Big Rod on Tuesday 26th August 16:26

I've cooked moules mariniere using mussels picked at low tide on our fair shores.

It tasted OK but such a pain in the arse to clean and de-beard.

[Big Rod]

Ganglandboss said:

Big Rod said:

Inevitable what?

Chinese cockle picker jokes!

Oh, didn't think on that! DOH!

[Ganglandboss]

Big Rod said:

Ganglandboss said:

Big Rod said:

Inevitable what?

Chinese cockle picker jokes!

Oh, didn't think on that! DOH!

It's alright, they've just got a pay rise - it's not much but enough to keep their heads above water!

[Big Rod]

captainzep said:

I've cooked moules mariniere using mussels picked at low tide on our fair shores.

It tasted OK but such a pain in the arse to clean and de-beard.

We used to gather them years ago and never had a problem with them. I was at the beach yesterday and there're mussels, cockles, whelks and limpets etc by the metric f*cktonne. Really got me in the mood for some fresh as can be bivalves!!

[chris_w666]

Big Rod said:

I know it depends on exactly where you are but I was wondering if, bye and large, it's safe to pick your own seafood from UK shores, take them home and cook 'em up?

Or if you don't know, maybe you could point me in the right direction.

Of course it is, seasidey places are great for it. But a great idea is to check local outflow pipes and tidal flows before deciding where to pick stuff from.

[BoRED S2upid]

Yeh its fine you think they are going to grow and survive in nasty places where theres a lot of polution?

[Big Rod]

BoRED S2upid said:

Yeh its fine you think they are going to grow and survive in nasty places where theres a lot of polution?

Good point actually.

[s2art]

Big Rod said:

BoRED S2upid said:

Yeh its fine you think they are going to grow and survive in nasty places where theres a lot of polution?

Good point actually.

As mentioned, sewage outflow provides lots of nutrients but also lots of potentially nasty bugs. Beware.

[martinmac]

till plenty around Morecambe bay. As has been said, just apply a little thought to the location. These things filter water.

[King Herald]

Ganglandboss said:

Big Rod said:

Ganglandboss said:

Big Rod said:

Inevitable what?

Chinese cockle picker jokes!

Oh, didn't think on that! DOH!

It's alright, they've just got a pay rise - it's not much but enough to keep their heads above water!

They weren't that hard up. In fact one of them phoned home, on his mobile, to tell his mum his business was going under....

[_Batty_]

chinese style cockles?
sounds lovely

[collateral]

Isn't there that cleanest beaches list or something? Might be worth a goose to find the closest

Curried saffron mussels with white wine is sex in a bowl

[tomash]

Id suggest checking out the list of blue flag beaches

Here for the UK

If the place that you are thinking of doing your foraging is one of these or next door to one of these then id suggest that you are pretty safe.

Bear in mind tho that your average filter feeder will concentrate any nasties in its own body so toxins like bacteria, heavy metals, phenolic compountds and other loverly carcinogens.

Having said that Ive had some of my best seafood on the beach having just harvested it myself.