name bulot. A strong fishery exists on many shores around the world. They are trapped in pots using dogfish and brown crab as bait. It can be confused with Neptunea antiqua (red whelk), which is poisonous to humans. Ecology and population decline Disappearing or diminishing populations of whelks have been observed since the early 1970s, especially in the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. Additionally, vast beds of empty shells have been discovered where no living whelks are present. Imposex, the occurrence of male gonads on female whelks, has been detected since the early 1990s, and is thought to be a product of the shipping industry. Specifically, TBT has been shown to reduce viability of whelk populations. Common whelk egg cases can be found washed up on the intertidal zone of beaches, and are colloquially known as sea wash balls. References External links MarLIN: The Marine Life Information Network for Britain & Ireland R. Tucker Abbott & Percy A. Morris, 1995, Shells of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies, Houghton Mifflin, Boston ARKive Buccinidae Gastropods described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Extant Rupelian first appearances Rupelian species first appearances