The Atlantic Sea scallop shows great potential as an aquaculture species in the Eastern United States. It is characterized by a fast growth rate, high price, an established market both domestically and internationally and developed aquaculture protocols in similar species abroad. Furthermore, while the US still has the largest wild scallop fishery globally, total catch has drastically declined in recent years, necessitating imports from farmed scallops grown overseas, which now account for 50% of the US market. In Maine, a small scallop aquaculture industry has developed, mostly using suspended gear methods developed in Japan. However, these methods may present an entanglement risk to critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales and are extremely labor intensive due to substantial biofouling. University of New Hampshire partnered with lobster fishermen to develop bottom culture methods of scallops using established commercial gear.
In August, September and October 2024, scallop spat collectors were deployed at 12 sites of varying depths (30-45m) off the New Hampshire coast. Total spat numbers, spat size and biofouling levels varied significantly between months and depths. Collectors were recovered in spring 2025 and spat were distributed into bottom cages at two sites at 35m depth. After one year, more than 99 percent of scallops survived and exhibited growth comparable to suspended gear. The gear showed virtually no biofouling after being deployed for six-months without maintenance. These results present an encouraging opportunity for commercial application by fishermen and aquaculturists in the United States.