Atlantic sea scallops attached to ear-hanging lines underwater.
Christopher Noren
The University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) and Darling Marine Center are working on a study that compares two scallop farming methods to determine which one is better for commercial growers.
The study, led by UMaine postdoctoral researcher Christopher Noren, examines how each method, ear-hanging and lantern net culture, influences the size of the scallops and the weight of the adductor muscle.
The researchers have collaborated with two commercial scallop farms in Penobscot Bay and Frenchman Bay in Maine. Over four years, they have tested the growth of the scallops and the weight of their adductor muscles.
According to Andrew Peters, owner of Vertical Bay LLC and co-author of the study, the results obtained will help Maine farmers refine their operations and improve profitability, ultimately contributing to the development of a sustainable scallop aquaculture industry in the Gulf of Maine.
The most commonly used method is called suspended culture, in which the grower uses multi-tiered lantern nets to grow the scallops to a harvestable size. This method requires frequent maintenance and optimization of growth conditions.
In contrast, ear-hanging, a technique derived from Japanese culture, involves drilling a small hole in the scallop's shell and suspending it on a line, reducing maintenance needs.
"By comparing these two methods across a full grow-out cycle, we were able to identify where the biological advantages lie and how they might translate to better yields and more efficient operations," Noren clarified.
One of the findings showed that ear-hanging scallops had up to 12% more adductor muscle weight. This is the most sold product in U.S. seafood markets, and its price increases with greater weight.
Ear-hanging scallops grew more quickly in optimal conditions, although they were more affected by cold winter temperatures than those grown in lantern nets.
"These findings give scallop farmers a clearer picture of how different methods impact growth and harvest timing. Understanding the trade-offs between techniques will help inform decisions about production strategies," added co-author Damian Brady, a professor of oceanography at UMaine.
In 2023, UMaine launched the first-ever national assessment of seafood marketing practices in the United States. The American Seafood Harvesters Marketing Practices Survey aimed to bring attention to the role that seafood harvesters play in the nation's food systems and, eventually, inform future investments in the sector.
