Farming Scallops in the Bay | Maryland Farm & Harvest

Summary

In Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, a group of local farmers have revived the long-lost bay scallop industry after it was wiped out in the 1930s. Led by Matt Holloway and childhood friends, the team founded an aquaculture farm to grow and harvest these scallops sustainably. Using custom-designed equipment and working with marine scientists, they are restoring scallop populations while supporting the local ecosystem. The farm offers fresh, authentic scallops, providing a more sustainable protein source while contributing to water quality improvement and local business growth.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Maryland farmers are reintroducing bay scallops in the Chesapeake Bay to revive a long-lost seafood species.
• 🧑‍🌾 Matt Holloway, a former sod farmer, shifted to scallop aquaculture after learning about the species' history and decline due to a 1930s storm.
• 📍 The chosen location for the scallop farm is Shinka Bay, which has high salinity, ideal for scallop farming.
• 🛠️ Holloway and his childhood friends, Brian Dicky and Lee Beum, co-founded the Bayat Seafood company to grow and harvest scallops.
• 🔧 Lee, while serving in the National Guard, engineered a custom system for harvesting scallops, adapting Lantern Nets from Asia for local waters.
• 🔄 The scallop farming process involves moving scallops through different stages of growth and density, using power washing and sorting.
• 🌱 Scallop aquaculture is being developed in collaboration with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, exchanging spat (baby scallops) for research data.
• 👁️ Scallops have up to 80 eyes and move using jet propulsion, making them mobile and responsive to their environment.
• 💧 Like oysters, scallops are filter feeders that help clean water by ingesting algae and toxins, contributing to a healthier ecosystem.
• 🍽️ The farm-grown scallops are sold to local restaurants, offering a sustainable, high-quality seafood product that tastes better than processed alternatives.

Q & A

What species are the farmers reintroducing to the Chesapeake Bay area?

The farmers are reintroducing bay scallops, a species that was once native to the Chesapeake Bay but had largely disappeared.

What caused the decline of bay scallops in the Chesapeake Bay?

A major storm in the 1930s destroyed the submerged aquatic vegetation, which was essential to the bay scallop population, leading to their decline.

Why is the Shinka Bay area chosen for the bay scallop aquaculture project?

Shinka Bay was chosen because of its high salinity levels, which make it a suitable environment for growing bay scallops.

Who are the founders of Bayat Seafood, and how did they come together?

Bayat Seafood was founded by Matt Holloway, Brian Dicky, and Lee Beum, who are childhood friends that grew up together on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

What is the role of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in the project?

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) provides baby bay scallops (spat) to Bayat Seafood in exchange for research assistance, including studying scallop mortality and growth rates.

How are the scallops cultivated in the aquaculture farm?

The scallops are grown in custom-made Lantern Nets, which are layered, vertical systems modified for shallow waters. The scallops are thinned out and moved as they grow, with each net turning into several more to accommodate their size.

What unique feature do bay scallops have, and how do they use it for mobility?

Bay scallops have up to 80 blue iridescent eyes, which give them almost a 360° view. They use jet propulsion to move around, shooting water out of their shells when they sense danger or need to find a place to hide.

Why are bivalve species like scallops important for the environment?

Bivalve species like scallops filter algae and toxins from the water as they feed, helping to clean the water. Their filtration process is similar to that of oysters, making them important for improving water quality.

How are the scallops prepared and packaged for sale?

The scallops are inspected and cleaned by hand to remove any biofouling (such as worms, coral, or barnacles) and checked for hollowness. They are then power-washed, packaged, and shipped on ice to local restaurants.

What sets Bayat Seafood's scallops apart from other commercial scallops?

Bayat Seafood's scallops are real, whole scallops, unlike some commercial scallops, which are made from fish meal or fish paste and shaped to look like scallops. Bayat Seafood ensures that customers are eating authentic scallops.