How Are Cuttlebones Made?

Cuttlebones are made from a substance called aragonite - a form of calcium carbonate that forms a lattice-like structure. Essentially the cuttlebone is strong and full of holes, which the cuttlefish can fill with a mix of gas and liquid in different amounts. The result? Buoyancy control.

Where do Cuttlebones come from?

A cuttlebone is not a bone, but rather the internal shell of the Cuttlefish, a small, squid-like cephalopod. In the Cuttlefish, the cuttlebone is filled with gasses and helps control the fish's buoyancy in the water.

How do they harvest cuttlebone?

Cuttlefish are primarily caught by trawlers. Trawling is one of the commercial fishing methods known for involving high amounts of bycatch.