Mollusc processing apparatus and related methods

Mollusc processing apparatus and related methods are disclosed. Molluscs are held in holders by one of their shells, illustratively the bottom shells, and are moved between a series of processing stations. At a shell cut station, an opening is cut into one or both of the shells of each mollusc. The next processing station includes a cutting blade to cut the adductor muscle and viscera of each mollusc away from its non-held shell, illustratively the top shell, and a shell detach mechanism to detach the non-held shell from the held shell. One or multiple air blasts are directed toward the viscera to loosen it from the held shell, and at a vacuum station the loosened viscera is pulled from the held shell. A second muscle cut station includes another cutting blade to cut the adductor muscle from the held shell.