This year, most of the time at the meetings was spent on the discussion and identification of specimens of marine molluscs, reports and results of excursions and trips including the updating of the collections.

It was amazing to assess that the number of members has again increased for the third year one after the other: 26 members paid the membership fee, what is representing a growth of seven members, despite the loss of some sponsors. So far, a lot of shell collectors still did not found the way to our meeting place ‘The Square House’, but thanks to the website and the growing appeal of our club a new world has been made accessible for shell collectors to enjoy this fascinating hobby.

Overview of activities in 2012

– January 22:

* Lecture of the annual report.

* A look into new books and issues of periodicals.

* Notification of interesting beach finds, including more than a hundred live specimens of Epitonium clathrus washed ashore at De Panne (Belgium).

* Presentation and identification of specimens of South African Conidae.

* New Year’s reception: snacks and sparkling wine donated by Adriaan Janssens.

– 19 February:

* Presentation of Neptunea, 11 (4).

* Identification of specimens of Laevicardium oblongum and L. crassum: after conversation with Jan Johan ter Poorten (Netherlands) there seems to be a third (new?) species involved  mainly present off SW England.

* Reports of interesting beach discoveries on the Belgian west coast.

* The “websites” section: critical discussion.

* A retrospect on an excursion to Normandy (France) by means of a digital slide show.

* Interesting tips and tricks based upon the ‘Mollusques du Roussillon’ by BDD and how to use Huber’s “Compendium of Bivalves” .

– 13 March:

* News from the Shell Show in Paris.

* Findings from the pumped sand on the Belgian coast (including Knokke and Wenduine).

* New issue of ‘Neptunea ” in preparation: the last two editions in the series of eight on the catches by the Belgian fishing in the Bay of Biscay.

* Examination of specimens of Dosinia lupinus, D. lupinus lincta and related species from West Africa.

* Study of specimens of Mactra stultorum from different localities.

* The “websites” section: a critical examination.

– 22 April:

* Presentation of Neptunea, 11(1) and Neptunea, 11(2).

* Study of specimens of Pitar rudis and Pitar mediterraneus.

* Travel experiences in Normandy and Brittany (France) in a period of extremely low tide.

* The difference between Ocinebrellus inornatus and Ocenebra erinaceus.

* The family Littorinidae in Western Europe.

* The search for bivalves with a rake in Portugal waters (movie obtained from Canvas).

* Preparation of the presence of BVC-Coast at the International Shell Show at Hoboken.

* The family Marginellidae in South Africa.

– 13 May:

* Presentation of the shells collected in Normandy and Brittany: comments, anecdotes and gathering tips.

* Study of the South African Conidae.

* The differences between Tapes philippinarum and Tapes decussatus.

* Presentation of some interesting shells.

* Demonstration of how to edit digital images.

– 17 June:

* Presentation of small species of Gastropoda from Normandy and Brittany (France).

* The difference between some European Veneridae (Venerupis corrugata, V. senegalensis and var. geographica, Politapes aureus, Politapes virgineus …

* Critical look at some websites.

* Pleasant and less pleasant experiences at the Hoboken International Shell Show.

* Presentation of some interesting shells and new books.

– 26 August:

* Introduction of new members from Bredene and Limburg.

* Study of the South African Marginellidae.

* Study of some West African Marginellidae: M. glabella, M. irrorata, M. sebastiani, M. desjardini and the new species M. pseudodesjardini and M. pseudosebastiani.

* Identification of European microshells (Rissoidae, Pyramidellidae …) and how this subject can be dealt with at the meetings.

* Lecture about the West Atlantic Colubrariidae by David Monsecour (Aarschot).

* The variability of Glycymeris glycymeris and comparison with a probably new species from the Canary Islands.

– 23 September:

* Report on the annual visit to the RBINS: comments + photo-reportage.

* The study of some European donacidae: Donax trunculus anatinus, Donax vittatus and D. vittatus atlanticus.

* Fieldwork at the meeting: dissection of Aporrhais pespelecani specimens from the Bay of Biscay in search for Montacuta phascolionis. Afterwards the finds were shared among the participants.

* A last look at the South African Marginellidae with a restriction to the large species.

– 28 October:

* Comparison between Acmaea testudinalis and Tectura virginea.

* A second dissection of specimens of pelican feet from the Gulf of Biscay for members unable to attend the previous meeting.

* Cleaning with the ultrasound: demonstration and critical evaluation.

* Discussion of the species examined in the RBINS.

* Demonstration of software used in editing digital images.

* Result of a trip after a very heavy storm on St Martin (Netherlands Antilles): identification and assessment of the finds.

– 18 November:

* Renewed attention to new members: which subjects are required or what questions have to be answered at the next meetings?

* Compiling text and images for the website.

* Presentation of new issues from ‘Neptunea’: projection and discussion of the shells collected in 1996 off the Shetland Islands by one of our members.

– The confusion between Pseudamussium clavatum and P. peslutrae: projection of digital images of a hundred specimens from European waters (Arne Ghys).

– 16 December:

* Deep-water species in the Strait of Mozambique from shrimp trawling at the end of the last century (Part I of a PowerPoint presentation) (F. Nolf).

* Philine quadripartita and related species from European and West African waters.

* The concept of variability illustrated by means of specimens of Aequipecten opercularis and A. audouini.

* Presentation of some remarkable shells.