About Geoduck
A unique seafood delicacy from B.C.'s cool, pristine waters
Geoduck from Canada is a bivalve mollusk. This species is a filter feeder, meaning they filter surrounding water to consume small particles of food like phytoplankton. They exhale water through their gills, which is also their source of oxygen. Scientists and connoisseurs alike credit the pure, clean coastal waters of B.C. with the consistently high quality geoduck meat. There’s a reason British Columbia is the leading supplier of premium geoduck!
Approximately 90% of the 1,400 metric tonnes (3.08 million lbs) of the annual Canadian geoduck harvest is shipped to China and Hong Kong, however, geoduck is actively being discovered by seafood lovers worldwide.
Geoduck biology
The Geoduck from Canada scientific name is Panopea generosa. This species of clam can bury itself more than one metre deep in the gravel or sand of the ocean floor. It is the largest burrowing clam in the world and one of the longest lived, often living over 100 years, with the oldest geoduck recorded in Canada at 168 years old. The age of the clams can be estimated by the growth rings or ‘annuli’ on the shell, similar to the rings of a tree trunk. It can grow to over 4 1⁄2 kg (10 lbs), however a commercially harvested geoduck is on average about 1 kg (2.2 lbs) in weight.
The average shell length is 195 mm (7 3⁄4 inches). Geoduck from Canada is also known as “Elephant Trunk Clam” in Chinese for its long, meaty siphon
and more recently as “King Clam” in North American markets for its large size and prestigious reputation.
Differences in appearance
Canadian geoducks are formed by nature and grow in the wild. As a result, the overall size, colour and other conditions of their shell and siphon will vary according to their growing environment.
Examples include:
- a geoduck shell could have imperfections if it has grown in a
rocky substrate; and, - a geoduck siphon and/or shell could feature a darker colour
overall or some staining when it grows in hard packed sediment
that allows less oxygen through.
Other factors that influence the size and appearance of a
geoduck include:
- location of the geoduck bed (commercial geoduck fishing location)
- depth of burial in the ocean floor
- depth of the water
- age
- genetics
- effects of predators
Geoduck lifecycle
Geoducks are broadcast spawners with separate
sexes. When males spawn, the females then
release between 7 to 10 million eggs which are
fertilized externally. Within 48 hours, shelled
larvae begin swimming and weeks later they
drop to the ocean floor where they start digging
themselves into the ocean floor with a tiny foot
that has developed on the bottom of their
bodies.
After reaching adulthood, geoducks lose the
ability to dig and their shells remain sedentary
deep in the sand with only its neck or siphon
extending to feed on microscopic creatures or
retracting to protect themselves from predators.
Geoduck nutrition
Geoduck from Canada is as nutritious as it is delicious!
Geoduck clam meat is packed full of essential vitamins and
minerals, especially B12 and iron. It’s also an excellent source
of protein, with less fat and cholesterol than other meat or
seafood choices.
Nutrition breakdown per 100 grams (3.5 oz) or raw edible
portion:
- Calories (cal) 80.0
- Total Fat (g) 0.5
- Saturated Fat (g) 0.2
- Protein (g) 17.0
- Cholesterol (mg) 30.0
- Iron (mg) 44.0
- Vitamin B12 (g) 9.1
- Sodium (mg) 300.0
- Calcium (mg) 78.0