Wavy Turban Snail

The shells of wavy turban snails are used to make buttons!

Taxonomic description

• As one of the largest turbinid gastropods in California, this snail can grow its shell up to 15.24 cm (6 inches) long! ^[1]
• Shell is heavy with undulating ridges, and is conical in shape, with a flat base. Its color ranges from light brown to tan, and is often covered with coralline algae and other small organisms. ^[1]
• The operculum, or 'trap door' on the snail is hard, thick, oval, and flat with well-defined rough ridges. ^[1]

Distribution

• Found in California, as far south as Baja California and as far north as San Luis Obispo County.  ^[1,2]

Life history

• Typically, smaller snails grow quickly, while growth slows for larger snails. There are two main growth periods, a low growth period in the spring and summer and a high growth period in fall and witner. ^[1] 
• Sexually mature individuals are typically over 7.62 cm (3 inches) in shell diameter. Mature females are longer than 8.89 cm (3.5 inches) and males are longer than 7.87 cm (3.1 inches) in diameter. ^[1]
• Reproduction occurs year-round, but peaks in the spring and fall. ^[1]

Habitat

• Can be found on rocky substrate from the intertidal zone to as far deep as 76.2 m (250 ft). Smaller snails are generally in shallower waters, and larger snails are found in deeper waters. ^[1]
• It is an herbivorous generalist and feeds on kelp and coralline algae. Predators include sea stars, Kellet's whelks, octopuses, lobsters, and fishes. ^[1] 
• To escape predation in kelp forests, this snail migrates up to the canopy of giant kelp at night. ^[1]

Archaeological evidence suggests that native peoples fished wavy turban snail prior to European and Asian settlement in California!

Seasonal availability

• Available year-round. ^[12]

Regulatory and managing authority

• As established by the Marine Life Management Act, the California Fish and Game Commission regulates the fishery, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages this fishery in state waters through the CDFW’s Invertebrate Management Project. ^[3]

Gear type

• Typically harvested by divers. ^[1]
• Divers use handheld tools and net bags to collect the snails, gear which is identical to that used to collect red sea urchins. ^[1,5]
• Snails are hand-picked by divers, resulting in very little (or no) bycatch. ^[4]
• Divers make little contact with the seafloor. ^[1,5]

Status of the fishery

• Recorded landings began in 1992, with overseas markets for the meat and the shell. ^[1]
• Landings peaked in 1993, but crashed in 1994 after market demand plummeted; landings continued to fluctuate from 1995-97, and peaked again in 1998. ^[1]
• Fishery centered in San Diego, with most landings coming from Point Loma. ^[1]

Potential ecosystem impacts

• Wavy turban snails are abundantly available and have a high productivity rate, so over-harvesting is less likely. ^[4]
• El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events seem to trigger recruitment, and increase mortality of larger individual turban snails; this suggests that knowledge of ENSO will be helpful in setting harvest quotas in the future. ^[6]
• Impacts of harvesting wavy turban snails may cascade upward to their predators, like the giant-spined sea star (P. gigantus). ^[6]

The wavy turban snail’s meat is similar in taste and texture to abalone, which is why it is sometimes processed and sold as “wavalone”!

Edible portions

• Current market demand is for the foot. ^[1]
• The operculum should be removed. ^[8]
• The snail’s intestines are bitter in taste and are sometimes eaten, sometimes removed. ^[8,9]

Description of meat

• Has an abalone-like texture and taste; the foot of the snail is processed and sold to restaurants as an abalone-like product, “wavalone”. ^[1]

Culinary uses

• Most recipes for abalone and sea snails can be adapted to the wavy turban snail! ^[1]
• Can be prepared many ways: grilled, sautéed, battered and fried, in pastas, in chowders and soups, and in stir-fries. ^[8,9,10]
• For a spicy Korean sea snail salad recipe that wavy turban snail can be substitued in, visit Beyond Kimchee. ^[13]
• For a Bahamian conch fritter recipe that can use sea snail as a substitute, visit Nassau Paradise Island. ^[14]

Nutritional information 

• Information is provided for 100g of raw turban snail. ^[7.11]

Toxicity report

• There are no known contaminants.

Seasonal availability

• Available year-round in San Diego. ^[1]