Date shells

Date shells are the marine bivalves Lithophaga lithophaga, rock-boring molluscs of Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic coasts that dissolve stone with secreted acid. Their elongated shells look like date fruits, hence the name. They are enjoyed as a prized seafood in parts of the Mediterranean, though harvesting is now restricted in many areas because the boring habit damages coastal rock habitats. Like all bivalves, they filter seawater and can accumulate contaminants, so they must come from classified, monitored waters. Conservation rules increasingly protect wild beds, shifting demand toward regulated, sustainable sources.