Canadian mariners strike Asian gold with giant alien-looking shellfish

Geoducks are massive, bizarre, delicious deep-sea clams that are worth thousands to Canadian fishermen and Asian diners. Catching them, however, is not for amateurs.

From a basket hoisted on the back of his trawler, fisherman Freddy Gutmann proudly picks up a giant geoduck clam fresh from the frigid waters off the north-western Canadian coast. “This one is a great specimen,” Gutmann says as sea water gushes from the massive mollusk that measures an impressive 20cm. Gutmann has good reason to be in high spirits since within 24 hours, the super-sized shellfish – shunned by Western chefs – will be served at top restaurants in Hong Kong, Beijing or Tokyo for a steep price.