Bengt and Viktor Klemming have made a bottom discovery that could make them record holders. It is the world’s largest oyster. ”It hangs by the dock in a net that I think we can show to tourists who visit,” says Bengt, 60. For centuries, oysters have been considered a delicacy, often served on a bed of ice with a lemon wedge. Over a decade ago, a giant oyster measuring 35 centimeters long was fished in Denmark, setting a record. But now that record could be broken. On Monday, Bengt Klemming, 60, and his son Viktor Klemming, 29, found an oyster measuring 40 centimeters long. ”I initially thought it was two oysters stuck together, but upon closer inspection, I realized it was a single oyster,” Bengt Klemming says. The oyster is a ”Gigas”, also known as a Japanese giant oyster, and originates from the Pacific Ocean. It is considered an invasive species in Sweden, where the flat ”Ostrea edelius” oyster is the naturally occurring species. Despite being an invasive species, the giant oyster is still edible and is common in restaurants. The flat oyster is seen as a more luxurious alternative. The Gigas oyster is usually cultivated in France and the Netherlands, and larvae from there are believed to have made their way to Denmark and Sweden, becoming an invasive species. This can cause problems, as seen in Denmark, where they create reefs that can destroy beaches. However, the situation in Sweden is not as bad due to better control. Bengt Klemming has already contacted the Guinness World Records about the oyster and plans to display it to tourists visiting the area.
