Top Carpet Shells Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

The Top Carpet Shells Not Elsewhere Included (NEI) refer to a group of edible marine bivalve mollusks, primarily from the family Veneridae, commonly known as carpet shells or venus clams. These shellfish are highly valued for their tender meat and are often harvested from intertidal and shallow subtidal zones in coastal regions. Major fishing countries for carpet shells NEI include Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, and Japan, where they are both wild-caught and cultivated through aquaculture. In Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts, carpet shells are a staple in local seafood cuisine and support significant artisanal and commercial fisheries. The industry is characterized by hand-gathering, dredging, and increasingly, sustainable farming practices to meet high demand while protecting natural stocks. These countries have developed robust management systems to ensure the continued productivity and ecological balance of carpet shell populations.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.