Sea Scallop Enhancement and Sustainable Harvesting

Coonamessett farm managed this project that developed and demonstrated the technology to enhance sea-scallop production on a sustainable basis, using the existing New England fishing industry and infrastructure. This project established a pilot sea scallop culture operation and determined factors effecting scallop growth and survival as well as efficient handling methods. An approach was used which matches the constraints and resources of the present industry as well as competing marine interests. The culture operation was situated offshore and was designed for servicing by vessels currently engaged in wild capture. The engineering of large-scale grow-out facilities and the demonstration of efficient handling methods was the core of the project. Final stage grow-out was be accomplished through the transfer of undersized animals from wild harvesting.