Culture of the Bay Scallop, Argopecten irradians, in Virginia

In recent years there has been increased interest in the development of marine aquaculture or mariculture. Techniques for growing many traditional species. such as oysters and quahogs. have been developed, and considerable effort has also been made to test the feasibility of culturing new . less traditional species (Loosanoff and Davis,1963 : Iversen. 1968; McNeil, 1970; Price and Maurer, 1971: and Milne ,1972). This paper reviews the natural history of the bay scallop. Argopecten irradians Lamarck, and presents a review of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's (VIMS) continuing research on this species which began in 1968.