kokkels

Kokkels, singular kokkel, is a common name for edible cockles, small to medium-sized marine bivalve mollusks in the family Cardiidae. The most widespread European species is Cerastoderma edule, the European cockle; another brackish-water species is Cerastoderma glaucum, the lagoon cockle. These species form beds in exposed sands and muds in intertidal zones and estuaries.

Cockles have rounded, heart-shaped shells with strong ribs. They range from about 2 to 4 cm in diameter. The shell color varies; patterns and tones depend on species and habitat.

They are filter feeders. They reproduce by broadcast spawning; eggs develop into free-swimming larvae (veligers) that settle as juveniles. Cockle beds often display high recruitment in favorable conditions. Lifespans commonly span several years.

Native to the coasts of the North Atlantic and parts of Europe, including the British Isles, western Europe, and the Mediterranean for C. edule. They inhabit shallow, sandy or muddy substrates, often in tidal flats and estuaries, and are adapted to periodic exposure during low tides.

Kokkels are harvested for food and valued for their briny, sweet meat. They are collected by hand-digging at low tide or by dredging where permitted, then sold fresh, frozen, or canned. In many countries, cockle fisheries are subject to management measures to protect beds and juvenile stocks.

In some regions cockle populations have declined due to overfishing, habitat loss, and disease. Restocking and closures, quotas, and size limits are employed to sustain stocks.