UK: Is there a future for Scottish farmed scallops?

Is there a future for Scottish farmed scallops? One area of Scottish shellfish aquaculture that would seem to have good potential for growth is king and queen scallop production – although there are technical and biological challenges that still need to be overcome. The lack of Scottish scallop production is borne out by the Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2023, which reveals that there was a decrease in king scallop production since 2022, from 39,000 to 24,000 shells, and for queen scallops it was non-existent or minimal at best. At first glance, it would appear the potential for growth in the farmed scallop sector is good, given the strong market demand for the shellfish and the environmentally friendly manner of production, which would appeal to consumers. However, these plus-points have been overcome by the challenges of production on an economically viable scale. Dr Nick Lake, CEO of the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, was involved in much of the early ...