The geographic range of the whelk in the North Atlantic Ocean extends from the Mediterranean Sea to Scandinavia on the eastern side and from Labrador to New Jersey on the western side, with reported pockets of high density in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy. Whelk is considered a cold water species that inhabits a wide range of bottom types, however it prefers muddy or sandy substrates and can be found anywhere from tidal level to depths of 200 m or more. In Newfoundland and Labrador, whelk is located in numerous areas along the coast, particularly around southern Labrador and the northern coastlines of the island (DFA).

Whelk is harvested in many regions of the world using an assortment of trap technology and various bait types. In Newfoundland and Labrador, whelk has been traditionally harvested by small, twine, conical pots known as 'Korean pots' and homemade traps manufactured from plastic tubs and/or buckets. Whelk traps are typically weighted at the bottom with cement or by other means and a rope or other mechanism is positioned in the centre of the trap to secure the bait (DFA).