• The Life Cycle of a Scallop
• Harvesting in the U.S.
• Types & Species of Scallops
• Scallop Processing
• Preparation & Recipes

The Life Cycle of a Wild Domestic Scallop
Scallops form from externally fertilized eggs that within just 3 days begin to take on the characteristics of an adult scallop. It takes about 2 months for the fertilized eggs to reach the "newly settled" juvenile stage, and around 6 months to become an "early" juvenile with outer shell. A scallop does not reach adult stage until it is 3-4 years old. By this time, they will be 3-5 inches in diameter and the scallop is ready for harvesting.