Their growth is very slow, and to reach the 5 cm length, they require 15 to 35 years.

These mollusks have been considered a delicacy in Mediterranean cuisine; often cooked and served in a broth of white wine, garlic and parsley.

[citation needed] The extraction of the shells require dismantling of the rocks where they live and can lead to desertification of the coast.

[9] Several governments have restricted the collection of these shells or even made it wholly illegal, in order to protect the rocks on which they are found.

These countries include Croatia,[10] Italy,[5] Slovenia,[11] France,[12] Greece,[5] Montenegro,[5] and others, including participants in the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)[13] The species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international trade is regulated by the CITES permit system.