Species

Local seafood is inherently seasonal, and is determined by factors such as weather, water temperature and abundance of species. Throughout the year, availability of locally caught species will vary. Below is a guide to what species you are likely to encounter and what time of year they are likely to be caught.

Chat with your local fishmonger to find out more.

Availability

Good

Variable

Poor

Time of best quality (no dots indicate consistent quality year-round)

Months of the year

European Lobster 

North Wales has a long history of fishing lobster, Homarus gammarus, contributing significantly to the local economy. It is one of the most important species caught in Gwynedd, supporting a large export market to Europe and Asia. Pot-caught lobsters from North Wales in particular are known for being amongst the finest of British Seafoods, given the clear, nutrient rich waters. 

Common Whelk 

These large, edible sea snails are found in the cold waters around the North Atlantic. Whilst whelk, Buccinum undatum, were traditionally common form of cheap food in the UK, there is little demand for them here these days, and are instead sold predominantly to South Korea. This export market is a highly valuable part of the local economy. 

Atlantic Mackerel 

Mackerel, Scomber scombrus,  is a fast swimming, shimmery blue/silver fish that live in huge shoals. During warmer months, they can be found closer to the shoreline and nearer the surface of the ocean, which is when they are more frequently caught. Not only a sustainable seafood choice, but they are also an important source of food for larger marine predators too.   

Crab 

Brown crab, Cancer pagurus, is the most commercially important crab species here, with most exported to Europe and Asia. Caught in the same pots as lobsters, they can be fished all year round, although far fewer vessels land them over the winter given poor weather conditions for fishing. 

Common Prawn 

The Common prawn, Palaemon serratus, is a species of shrimp found in a variety of habitats all around the coasts of the UK and Ireland, including Gwynedd. Whilst they are mostly fished between August and November, the local presence of common prawn is not very predictable, which means their availability is highly variable. 

King & Queen Scallops 

King scallops, Pecten maximus, and Queen scallops, Aequipecten opercularis, are high value wild-caught seafoods, with Cardigan Bay known as the most productive area for these shellfish in Wales. This fishery has open and closed seasons, so they are mostly caught over the winter and spring.      

Mussels & Oysters 

The Menai Strait is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and has a rich history of shellfish aquaculture. In fact, half of the UK’s entire mussel crop is produced in the Menai Strait. The high-quality shellfish can be attributed to the strong tidal currents and locally blooming algae, phaeocytis, which gives the shellfish a unique flavour. Look out for Menai mussels and oysters on the menus! 

Mussels grown here are blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, which are cultivated on the intertidal seabed, meaning they are sometimes submerged under water and sometimes exposed to air. They grow in thick beds, almost like a reef, which creates important habitats for many other marine species and birds.    

Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, are also cultivated intertidally, in bags on metal wracks called trestles, so they sit “off-bottom” and not directly on the seabed. It can take on average 2-3 years to reach market size. 

European Seabass 

Seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is a silvery marine finfish that is found near the coastline all around Gwynedd, in relatively shallow waters. Seabass is a valuable fish commercially and variably available throughout the year, though peak catches often occur in autumn and winter. 

Other species caught locally:

The following species are sometimes caught locally, so you may find some of these species along the seafood trail too.

• Monkfish, Lophius Piscatorius
• Mullet, Mugilidae family
• Plaice, Pleuronectes platessa
• Flounder, Platichthys flesus
• Common sole, Solea solea
• North Atlantic Pollock, Pollachius pollachius
• Saithe/Coley/Coalfish, Pollachius virens
• Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus
• Atlantic Herring, Clupea harengus
• Dab, Limanda limanda
• Whiting, Merlangius merlangus
• Turbot, Scophthalmus maximus
• Crawfish/Spiny lobster, Palinurus spp.
• Velvet crab, Necora puber
• Queen Scallop, Aequipecten opercularis
• Cockles, Cerastoderma edule

Plant Seafood:

• Marsh Samphire, Salicornia europaea
• Rock Samphire, Crithmum maritimum