After disappearing from certain areas of the United States for nearly a century, scallops are now making a significant return. A recent study has highlighted their resurgence, particularly in U.S. coastal bays. This revival is attributed to a successful restoration project focused on seagrass ecosystems, which has allowed scientists to reintroduce these mollusks to their natural habitat.
The collaborative effort between the College of William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has paved the way for this ecological milestone. Scientists involved in the project have documented the remarkable growth of scallop populations, with hundreds of scallops found in just one square meter—an unimaginable feat a few years ago.
Approximately 70 million seeds were planted as part of the restoration initiative. According to Richard Snyder, the director of VIMS ESL, this achievement represents a significant social and ecological victory. The project originally began in 1997 when researchers implemented a plan to restore scallop populations in the bays of Virginia, based on aquatic vegetation.
Today, this initiative is recognized as one of the largest seagrass restoration efforts globally, demonstrating exponential growth in recent years. The resurgence of scallops has sparked excitement among fishing enthusiasts, who anticipate a revival of fishing activities in the near future. Researchers themselves are astonished by the remarkable outcomes of the restoration project.
