Fish

Littorina littorea

A tier

Littorina littorea is the common periwinkle of North Atlantic rocky shores—the species behind almost all British “winkles.” Shells are dark, banded, and small enough to need a pin; meats are grey-brown and briny. The snail grazes algae in the intertidal zone and is hand-picked at low tide. Boil in seawater-strength brine, cool, and serve. Overboiling toughens the tiny foot. Distinct from larger whelk fisheries in both biology and culture.