All about Topshell
Topshell are sea snails living in saltwater pools. They are valued for their meat and their naturally beautiful shells, which are used to make jewellery and various decorations.
Their meat has a great composition, with potential benefits to the body from its consumption.
What are Topshell?
They are gastropod molluscs that inhabit various saltwater bodies around the world. They are characterized by their spiral and beautiful shell and their muscular legs, which they use for locomotion and hunting.
They vary in size, colour and shape. There are thousands of species belonging to different families such as Muricidae, Buccinidae and Conidae. Many crayfish are carnivores, eating other molluscs, crustaceans or fish, but there are also herbivores, feeding on algae and other types of marine vegetation.
They are important molluscs for marine ecosystems, acting as predators and prey, thus contributing to the complex web of life in the seas and oceans.
Some species of sea snails are highly prized for their meat. They are a delicacy in many cuisines and their diverse, naturally beautiful shells are used to make jewellery or serve as decoration for people’s homes.
As with land snails, there are edible and inedible among the crabs. Specifically, we will look at one of the most popular edible species, Rapana venosa.
Raptors in the Black Sea
There are several species in our sea, and only one of them is not used as a food source – Nucella heyseana. The others, Rapana venosa, Purpura lapillus and Turbo spp, are edible. Topshell venosa is the best known and most consumed on our Black Sea coast.
This species is a predatory sea snail that belongs to the family Muricidae. It is native to the western Pacific, including waters off the coasts of China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
Rapana venosa is an invasive species in the Black Sea, where it was first introduced in the 1940s through the release of ballast water from ships.
Since then, the snail population has increased and it has become one of the dominant species in the region’s marine ecosystem.
The word rapana originated in Italy. This is how they refer to the group of marine snails in the family Muricidae. Originally the term was specifically for the species Rapana venosa, but nowadays people refer to molluscs by this name en masse.
Composition
Black Sea crabs are one of the most sought after and popular seafood. They are mainly a source of protein, contain omega-3 fatty acids, very little fat and no carbohydrates.
In 100 grams of sea snail meat we can find:
90 calories
18.7 g protein
0.9 fat
0 carbohydrates
Their meat contains minerals such as.
Vitamins A and E, also B-group:
B1 – thiamine, B2 – riboflavin, B3 – niacin, B6, B12
The values of nutrients and beneficial substances depend on several factors – age, nutrition, type, size and preparation of the rapeseed. If we have an allergy or intolerance to crayfish, we can add the beneficial substances from its composition through supplements.
Benefits
Crawfish meat has easily digestible protein containing amino acids that are necessary for productive brain function and energy restoration in the body.
There are no overt negatives of eating crawfish unless it is an individual intolerance, allergy or, as with anything else, overeating.
Here are some of the potential benefits to be gained from this beautiful seafood.
Boost metabolism
The protein in the flesh of crabs is important for the metabolism of amino acids, the synthesis of enzymes and hormones in the body involved in various metabolic processes. B vitamins are part of the substances responsible for metabolism and supplying the body with energy.
A study done by the Journal of Food Biochemistry proves that polysaccharides extracted from crayfish have potential anti-obesity effects by reducing weight and regulating the lipid process. The experiment has not yet been performed on humans, only on laboratory mice.
Rapani for blood cells.
Haemopoiesis is the process by which blood cells form, develop and mature to their final forms. It is a process that occurs throughout our lives. The purpose of this hematopoiesis is to replace blood cells that have died or passed into other tissues. Several substances found in crabs are involved in this process – iron, folate and vitamin B12.
Iron is responsible for the production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are also important for the formation of CHCs, as they are involved in the synthesis of DNA, which is necessary for the production of new ones.
A study conducted by the Journal of Medicinal Food found that mollusc extract had hematopoietic (blood-forming) effects in mice, increasing white blood cell and hemoglobin production.
With its composition, crabmeat can be beneficial for our heart condition, kidney function, bone strength, in cases of arthritis and infections. It has potential antioxidant properties that can protect cells from damage due to the influence of free radicals.
Not enough human studies have been done yet to definitively confirm these benefits, but with their composition, sea snails definitely build credibility for them.
Positive influence on the nervous system
Some substances found in shellfish are involved in nerve function, such as the B vitamins B12 and B6. They play a role in the metabolism of amino acids and the synthesis of neurotransmitters, improving the connection between nerve cells.
Improves vision
No experiments have been conducted, but sea snails have the essential nutrients responsible for human vision – omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A.
Vitamin A is responsible for the function of the retina, the part of the eye that senses light and helps us see. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that can protect us from age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in older people.
Turnips for the immune system.
The high presence of protein is important for maintaining to good immune system. In addition, crabs contain minerals such as zinc and selenium, also so necessary for this purpose.
Protein aids in the production of antibodies and immune cells to help the body protect against infections. Zinc and selenium have been shown to have immune stimulating properties. Deficiency of these substances can lead to impaired immune function.
A study from the Journal of Functional Foods, found that a polysaccharide extract extracted from crawfish stimulated immune cell activity, but the effect has not yet been confirmed in humans.
Turnips in cooking
The meat of the crawfish is usually removed from the shell after boiling. It can be used to prepare a variety of dishes, has a mild specific taste and a firm chewy texture similar to that of land snails.
They are popular in Asia, where they are most often used as an addition to stews, soups or fried using the stir-fry technique. In some regions it is used to fill dumplings or as a topping for sushi.
In Bulgaria, they are most often found breaded or boiled, drizzled with a sauce of olive oil, garlic and dill.
How to get crayfish?
There are several ways to catch them, more professional and not so much. We can find them in the water, along rocks or on the bottom of the sand.
Manually
This, perhaps, is the most pleasant way, especially for people who like to dive. For this one we will need a mask, snorkel, fins and something to store the crabs in the water while we look for more.
This would be best suited to be a net into which we drop the caught crayfish, attached to an air bottle or buoy that we pull along the surface with us as we swim in search of more.
There are divers who use just a mask as well, and those who stick to fuller equipment like neoprene or air bottles.
Crappie traps.
Traps can be set at deeper depths, one of the most common being one for crabs or lobsters. In it, for bait, leftover fish or other seafood are placed. After some time, the trap should have collected crabs and be ready to be retrieved from the water.
Dredging
A method involving nets or paddles with which the bottom is ‘scraped’. This method is most commonly used in commercial trapping by people with special equipment.
When fishing for crappie, it is important to return the young to the water so they can grow up, because when they are too small, we will be unable to retrieve almost any meat anyway.
In some places there are bans on hunting molluscs, so before we take action we need to make sure everything is within the limits allowed for the area.
How are they cooked?
First we need to put a pot of water on the stove, making sure that the water is enough to cover the crab. While the water is heating, we clean them of any clinging things, such as shells, algae, etc.
Put the whole crabs in the water, and don’t boil them for too long or they will become stringy. Leave them for about 7-9 minutes. When they are ready, use a fork to remove the meat from the shell, remove the intestine and the protective skin and you’re done.
Recipe for crab salad
This is one of the easiest and most loved recipes for serving sea snails.
Preparation time Servings Net carbs in 1 serving
5 min 1 2,4 g
Ingredients:
200 g cooked crawfish
3 tbsp Greek olive oil
1 garlic clove (crushed)
2 tsp dill
Salt to taste
Half a lemon
Directions:
Place the cooked crab in a bowl with a lid.
In another bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, dill and salt.
Pour the sauce over the sea snails, close the lid and shake to coat all over.
Serve in a suitable dish with 2 lemon slices for squeezing.
Conclusion
Turnips are seafood, mollusks in a hard and beautiful shell. There are many species, but the most popular edible species of Black Sea crab is Rapana venosa. In some countries they are considered a delicacy. Apart from their meat, crabs are also valued for their shells, which people use to make jewellery and decorations.
The flesh of crayfish has a wonderful composition and potential benefits for the body, which are still being studied by specialists. We can buy or catch our own crappie, but before we take action to hunt it, we need to make sure it is allowed in the area.
There are no established side effects except for people with individual intolerance or allergy. However, as with any other food, eating crayfish should not be overdone either.
The article uses material by Dilyana Ilieva