Top American Sea Scallop Fishing Countries

The American sea scallop (*Placopecten magellanicus*) is a large, commercially valuable bivalve mollusk found primarily along the Atlantic coast of North America, from Newfoundland to North Carolina. Renowned for their sweet, tender meat, sea scallops support one of the most lucrative wild fisheries in the United States. The U.S. is by far the leading harvester, with the majority of catches landed in the states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia, especially from the productive Georges Bank and Mid-Atlantic regions. Canada is the second major contributor, with significant landings from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland waters. Both countries have implemented strict management measures—such as rotational closures, limited entry, and catch limits—to ensure the long-term sustainability of this valuable resource, making the American sea scallop fishery a model for successful fisheries management worldwide.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.