Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of a bivalve shellfish (10), particularly a scallop, which is to be processed to recover an edible portion. A shell shape complement (30) has at least a partially complementary shape such as a concavity or recess to fit with at least a part of the shape or profile of the shellfish (10) such as the projecting part (18) at the hinge region (11). Moving means (40) rotates the shellfish relative to the shell shape complement (30) while the shellfish is maintained in contact with the shell shape complement (30) by biasing means operative to bias the shell shape complement (30) against the circumference (15) of the shellfish as the shellfish is rotated by the moving means (40) until a fit of the shellfish (10) with the complement is achieved. A sensor (45) is located within the concavity to sense and signal the achievement of the fit.

Abstract: Apparatus for mechanically and automatically processing a bivalve shellfish having a first shell (11) an second shell (12) so as to recover an edible portion (30) of the shellfish. The apparatus includes suction cups (55, 56) to part the two shells (11, 12) without completely separating the two shells. Flexible detaching blades (21, 22) enter the space between the two shells and diverge to contact and to follow the inner surfaces (11a, 12a) of the shells to cut the edible portion (30) of the shellfish from both the first shell (11) and the second shell (12) simultaneously. The blades (21, 22) then grip the edible portion to enable recovery thereof and the shells are discarded.