Locally Extinct For A Century, Bay Scallops Thriving Again On Virginia Shore Of Chesapeake Bay

Locally Extinct For A Century, Bay Scallops Thriving Again On Virginia Shore Of Chesapeake Bay

Bay scallops are making an incredible resurgence in coastal bays along Virginia’s Eastern Shore, according to a new survey.

The exponential population growth is the result of decades of dedicated seagrass restoration efforts that allowed scientists to reintroduce the species to its former home.

Locally extinct since the 1930s due to habitat loss, bay scallops are thriving again, with help from the College of William & Mary’s and VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory (ESL) in Wachapreague, Virginia.

The comeback could possibly set the stage for a future recreational fishery.

During the Bay Scallop Survey for 2025, the group routinely documented finding multiple scallops within a single square meter—something unimaginable just a few years ago.

Additionally, the researchers estimate the population will double in less than 18 months.

Virginians may one day be able to harvest local bay scallops for themselves, if the current moratorium on harvesting them along Virginia shores were lifted with the approval of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

“The restoration of bay scallops to their former range along the Virginian Eastern Shore represents a significant societal and ecological achievement,” said VIMS ESL Director Richard Snyder in a media release.

Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) once thrived in Virginia waters until an eelgrass wasting disease in the 1930s decimated their natural habitat. For approximately 90 years, the species was absent from the commonwealth’s coastal bays.

However, in 1997, William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS researchers launched a seed-based submerged aquatic vegetation restoration project, now considered the largest and most successful seagrass restoration in the world.

Early years showed relatively low, fluctuating numbers, but recently the population has grown exponentially and researchers say its upper limit remains unknown.

“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see this progress,” said Darian Kelley, a nursery manager at VIMS ESL who works closely with regional shellfish farmers.

BEAUTIFUL BAY RESTORED: World’s Largest Seagrass Restoration Project is a Virginia Success, Planting 600 Acres That Grow to Become 9,000

“The combined success is creating a more resilient and productive coastal ecosystem while potentially adding a new product to our state’s aquaculture industry.”

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