Species profile
Atlantic Bay Scallop
Argopecten irradians
Identify Atlantic Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 7 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Atlantic Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) is a bivalve mollusk regulated in 7 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (New York); the most generous is 100 (Federal Waters (DFO)).
Confirmed by 4,889 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Massachusetts, Florida, and New York the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Lives only about 2 years, making it one of the shortest-lived commercially harvested bivalves.
- Has dozens of bright blue eyes lining the edge of its colorful mantle.
- Claps its shells rapidly to swim away from predators like sea stars.
- Populations depend heavily on healthy seagrass beds for larval settlement and survival.
- New England's famous bay scallop fishery, centered on Nantucket, has operated for centuries.
Where Atlantic Bay Scallop are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic Bay Scallop
Background
Argopecten irradians, formerly classified as Aequipecten irradians, common names Atlantic bay scallop or bay scallop, is an edible species of saltwater clam, a scallop, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Pectinidae, the scallops. It is native to the northwest Atlantic from New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Bay Scallop article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Bay Scallop?
Atlantic Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) is a bivalve mollusk regulated in 7 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Bay Scallop?
Atlantic Bay Scallop is Argopecten irradians.
Is Atlantic Bay Scallop regulated for fishing?
Yes — Atlantic Bay Scallop has fishing regulations in 7 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Atlantic Bay Scallop?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Bay Scallop along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.