Top Knobbed Whelk Fishing Countries

The Top Knobbed Whelk (Busycon carica), also known as the knobbed whelk, is a large marine gastropod native to the western Atlantic coast of North America, particularly from Massachusetts to northern Florida. Recognizable by its robust, spiraled shell adorned with prominent knobs, this carnivorous mollusk inhabits sandy or muddy substrates in shallow coastal waters. The commercial harvest of knobbed whelks is primarily concentrated in the United States, with the states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina leading the industry. These whelks are targeted for their meat, which is popular in Asian and Italian cuisine, and their shells, which are valued by collectors. The U.S. dominates global whelk landings, as the species is not widely distributed or fished outside its native range, making it a regionally important fishery along the Atlantic seaboard.

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