DMF Home	About DMF	Contact DMF	DMF Offices

Bay scallops are bivalve mollusks that only live up to 26 months and grow to the length of four inches; however, most NC bay scallops are harvested at 12 to 16 months of age. In the early stages of a scallop’s life, it attaches to the leaves and stems of sea grass. As it matures, it sinks to the bottom where it continues to grow. Environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall, play a critical part in scallop abundance and yearly landings can widely vary. The status of the bay scallop fishery in NC is healthy. However, the depletion of grass beds in our estuaries causes great concern about the future of this fishery. Bay scallops are harvested from December to May with dredges, dip nets or by hand, in Core, Back and Bogue sounds and in the lower portion of New River and in eastern Pamlico Sound.