Scallop aquaculture is constrained by the annual inconsistency in the quantity and quality of the wild seed supply. Differences in the quality and condition of the subsequent fully grown scallops provide processors with a raw material very different from other food materials used in modern processing industries.

With the increased demands for shellfish products due to their healthy image, improvements in food technology and product development are required. This project integrated multi-disciplinary resources from bivalve hatchery production and on-growing to seafood processing by considering a “total food chain” approach on all research, training and technology transfer levels. The objective of the project was to develop an economically viable and environmentally sustainable genetic breeding programme for scallops in order to produce seed in a hatchery to supplement the inconsistent wild seed supply. The project also optimised ongrowing, harvesting (effects of size of animal and seasonal harvesting) and processing (effects of different handling, storage and packaging) of the shellfish.