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Seashells are commonly found in sandy beach drift, which is natural detritus deposited along beaches strandlines made by waves and the tides. Seashells are very often washed up onto a beach empty and clean, the creatures having already died, and the soft parts having rotted away or having been eaten by predators.

Empty seashells are often picked up by beachcombers. Collecting these shells is a harmless hobby or study. However, the most of seashells which are offered for sale commercially have been collected alive, then killed and cleaned for whatever purpose, specifically for the commercial trade. This type of large-scale exploitation can sometimes have a strong negative impact on our seashells and our local ecosystems, and sometimes can significantly reduce the distribution of endangered species.

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