By 2002, live scallops were recorded north of the Ocean City Inlet, possibly for the first time in well over a century.
In an attempt to re-establish a population in Chincoteague Bay, MDNR Shellfish Program planted 1.2 million juvenile bay scallops in protective pens and raised them to reproductive age during19.
The eyes can detect shadows and movement, which brings about an escape response.
Bay scallops have 18 pairs of blue eyes set in the mantle along the margin of the shell.
They are capable swimmers for short distances, which they accomplish by jetting water through their valves, generally in response to predators.
Now, in addition to these choices, scallop buyers need a whole new vocabulary, including 'chemical free,' 'dry pack,' and 'day boat' scallops.
Unlike other species which are bound to some substrate either by burrowing or attachment, adult bay scallops are free-living and extremely motile. Buying scallops, those delicious, sweet white morsels of shellfish muscle, used to be simple: you had your large 'sea' scallops and your small 'bay' scallops, and you could get them fresh or frozen.
This is a short-lived species, with a life span of only 12 to 26 months..
The foot fails to develop further, becoming a vestigial organ in the adults.
The juveniles will remain attached until they reach a size of 20 – 30 mm (¾ – 1 ¼ in), when they drop to the bottom.
The foot, along with byssal threads, allows the juveniles to crawl up the grass blades.
During metamorphosis, a foot and gills develop, the swimming organ disappears, and the tiny scallops attach to seagrasses or other objects.
After about 2 weeks, the larvae drop out of the water column and change into juvenile scallops, a process called metamorphosis.
Mortality is very high during this stage of their life history.
Water currents distribute the larvae around the estuary.
The fertilized eggs develop into swimming larvae, complete with tiny shells.
During its spawning period, a one-year old scallop produces an average of 16 million eggs.
Eggs are released into the water column, where they are fertilized.
Spawning in Maryland occurs during May/June, with a second spawning in September.
Scallops are hermaphrodites, simultaneously having both male and female sex organs.
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