Scallops: Farmed

Bay Scallop, Japanese Scallop, Qualicum Beach Scallop

Hotate

Farmed scallops are a more sustainable option than wild-caught scallops, however the vast majority of scallops on the market are wild caught and rank as either “Some Concerns” or “Avoid” depending on region. Because of how they feed, in some situations scallops may improve water quality, and since they do not rely on fishmeal or fish oil-based feeds, scallop farms have a low impact on marine resources. In addition, scallop farms rarely use fertilizers, antibiotics and other chemicals that could spread into surrounding waters. Of the two ways to farm scallops, off-bottom culture is preferred. Some scallop farming does have habitat impacts as well as impacts to marine resources because of dredging and the collection of wild larvae (spat).  Dredging is the harvest method for wild scallops, which has severe habitat impacts and bycatch concerns.

Scallops rely on natural organisms and other non-living organic matter and nutrients from the water column. There is no use of formulated feed in scallop farms. Even though an overwhelming majority of scallop spat is collected from the wild, this does not pose a significant risk to wild stocks. Overall this category is considered of ‘low’ conservation concern.

There is little information to suggest that escapes of cultured scallops in any country negatively affect wild stocks.

There are few incidences of disease outbreaks among scallops and little evidence of cultured scallops threatening native stocks when disease organisms exist.

The grow-out of scallops is accomplished in the natural environment and has a highly beneficial effect on water quality through the filtering of organic matter in the water column.

Management effectiveness varies by nation.

The absence of knowledge on the management of cultured scallops imported from China and Japan for example, warrants a ranking of ‘moderately’ effective due to the lack of information available. For these reasons, SeaChoice ranks all management regimes as moderately effective.

Are these scallops wild or farmed?

How were they farmed?

No.