Green ormer
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| Green ormer | ||||||||||||||
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| Haliotis tuberculata |
The green ormer, Haliotis tuberculata, is a coastal univalve mollusc, growing in European waters as far north as the Channel Islands. It is prized as a delicacy, leading to a decline in its population in some areas.
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[edit] Description
It grows up to 10 cm long, with a line of holes along one edge of the shell; the older holes eventually become blocked. The inside of the shell has a thick layer of Mother-of-pearl.
[edit] Habits
The green ormer eats algae, especially the sea lettuce.
It breeds in summer, via external fertilisation.
[edit] Channel Islands
Ormers are considered a delicacy in the British Channel Islands and are pursued with great alacrity by the locals. This has led to a dramatic depletion in numbers since the latter half of the 19th century, and 'ormering' is now strictly regulated in order to preserve stocks. The gathering of ormers is now restricted to a number of 'ormering tides', from the January 1 to April 30, which occur on the full or new moon and two days following. No ormers may be taken from the beach that are under 80 mm in shell length. Gatherers are not allowed to wear wetsuits or even put their heads underwater. Any breach of these laws is a criminal offence and can lead to fine of up to £5,000 or six months in prison.[1] The demand for ormers is such that they led to the world's first underwater arrest, when a Mr. Kempthorne-Leigh of Guernsey was arrested by a police officer in full diving gear when illegally diving for ormers.
