Aquaculture

Welfare of Commercially Farmed Scallops

Scallops are farmed in suspended nets and on the seabed globally; their welfare status as bivalves is considered low risk but warrants consideration.

Key Facts

Global scallop aquaculture production exceeds 2 million tonnes annually
Scallops are mobile bivalves that swim to escape predation — more active than oysters or mussels
Their nervous systems are more developed than sessile bivalves
Some researchers argue scallops are more welfare-relevant than oysters given their mobility
Scallop farming has relatively low environmental footprint compared to fed aquaculture species

Welfare Considerations

Scallop welfare is slightly more uncertain than oysters given their greater mobility and nervous system complexity. While still considered very low probability of sentience, their greater behavioral complexity warrants slightly more precautionary consideration than strictly sessile bivalves.

What You Can Do

Consider scallops as a lower-welfare-risk seafood choice
Support research into mobile bivalve welfare and sentience
Advocate for sustainable scallop farming practices protecting marine ecosystems
Share nuanced bivalve welfare science to help others make informed ethical seafood choices