The economic impact of the oyster aquaculture industry to the state of Maryland was an estimated $11.5 million in 2024, according to the University of Maryland Extension and Maryland Sea Grant.

Like oysters, bay scallops are native to Maryland waters, but unlike oysters, commercial-scale bay scallop aquaculture remains largely undeveloped in the U.S.

Researchers at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are aiming to establish the foundations for a thriving domestic bay scallop aquaculture industry. A new $200,000 grant from the Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center will help accelerate domestic bay scallop production by building a trained workforce and expanding seed availability.

“It’s a very exciting project with a strong focus on industry. We will be running a series of Bay Scallop Aquaculture Bootcamps for interested oyster growers and hatchery personnel across the East Coast, developing new training materials and videos, and conducting experiments to improve the transport and availability of hatchery-produced seed,” said Dr. Stephen Tomasetti, principal investigator on the grant and director of the UMES Paul S. Sarbanes Coastal Ecology Center.

Co-PIs Dr. Michael Acquafredda and Mr. Samuel Ratcliff, both of Rutgers University, will lead hatchery-focused bootcamps in New Jersey. Co-PI Dr. Justine Whitaker of UMES will lead the analysis of molecular results from experiments and support communication surrounding the project. Co-PI Lee Beauchamp, owner of Baywater Seafood, which grows bay scallops in Snow Hill, will co-lead Maryland bootcamps alongside UMES, focusing on growing market-sized bay scallops from seed. He will contribute his experience as a commercial grower.

“Bay scallops offer an exciting opportunity for the East Coast aquaculture industry. As a grower, I’m looking forward to sharing what we’ve learned at Baywater Seafood and working with UMES to tackle the practical challenges of raising scallops from seed to market. This project will help more growers gain the skills and access to seed they need to expand production and bring locally grown bay scallops to more consumers,” said Beauchamp.

According to Tomasetti, work on the project started in September 2026 and will continue until July 2029. In that time, the research team expects to lay the groundwork for a new domestic industry, helping establish Maryland, and the Northeast more generally, as a hub for bay scallop aquaculture.

— Kara Nuzback is a Communication and Outreach Specialist for the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center.