Information about Scottish West Coast king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, but fishing effort has recently decreased. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control the fishery. There are no catch limits to prevent overexploitation. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. Some areas are closed to dredging but in the inshore area, highly vulnerable habitats and species remain unprotected.Rating last updated December 2023

Isle of Man king scallops appear to be generally increasing in abundance. However, there is still some uncertainty about the impact of fishing on the stock, so there remains concern for fishing pressure. In recent years, a number of management measures have been brought in to control scallop fishing around the Isle of Man, including the UK's first long term management plan for inshore scallop fishing. However, it is not yet clear if measures have resulted in sustainable levels of fishing. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. However, in this area, vulnerable habitats and species are protected through closed areas, closed seasons, and curfews.Last updated: June 2025

Information about Scottish East Coast king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, but fishing effort has recently decreased. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control the fishery. There are no catch limits to prevent overexploitation. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. Some areas are closed to dredging but in the inshore area, highly vulnerable habitats and species remain unprotected.Rating last updated December 2023

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/scallop.php

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/scallop.php

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/scallop.php

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/scallop.php

Information about Scottish North East and Orkney king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, but fishing effort has recently decreased. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control the fishery. There are no catch limits to prevent overexploitation. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. Some areas are closed to dredging but in the inshore area, highly vulnerable habitats and species remain unprotected.Rating last updated December 2023

Information about Scottish North East and Orkney king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, but fishing effort has recently decreased. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control the fishery. There are no catch limits to prevent overexploitation. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. Some areas are closed to dredging but some vulnerable habitats and species remain unprotected.Rating last updated December 2023

King scallops from the northeast English Channel are increasing in abundance and fishing levels are close to sustainable levels. Therefore, there is no concern for biomass or fishing pressure. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control king scallop fishing in the northeastern English Channel. There are currently no catch limits, and fishing effort is not responsive to stock size. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. However, some MPAs in this region are closed to bottom towed gear, providing some protection to vulnerable ecosystems.Last updated June 2025.

Information about Scottish West Coast king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, but fishing effort has recently decreased. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control the fishery. There are no catch limits to prevent overexploitation. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. Some areas are closed to dredging but some vulnerable habitats and species remain unprotected.Rating last updated December 2023

Information about Scottish East Coast king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, but fishing effort has recently decreased. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control the fishery. There are no catch limits to prevent overexploitation. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. Some areas are closed to dredging but some vulnerable habitats and species remain unprotected.Rating last updated December 2023

There is a lot of uncertainty about the status of Welsh king scallop stocks. Based on the available data, there is concern for fishing pressure, but not biomass. The Cardigan Bay fishery is managed using a variety of measures but it is unknown if this is sufficient to sustain the stock. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. There are some protected areas here, but some vulnerable habitats and species remain at risk of being exposed to dredging.Rating last updated November 2023.

There is concern for the level of fishing pressure on the king scallop population in Northern Ireland, but the population is stable. Some management measures are in place to control the fishery. However, management is not responsive to stock status and therefore cannot ensure that scallop populations stay at healthy levels. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. There are some vulnerable species and habitats here, but dredging is banned from some protected areas. There are quite high levels of bycatch, which may have impacts on other species.Rating last updated: November 2023.

This rating is currently under review.

King scallops from the North Sea appear to be declining in abundance but are not subject to overfishing. Therefore, there is concern for biomass but not for fishing pressure. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control scallop fishing in the central North Sea. There are currently no catch limits or controls on the fishery, leaving the stock at risk of overexploitation. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. There is yet to be restrictions on where dredging can occur, so vulnerable habitats and species may be at risk.Last updated July 2025.

There is very little information about king scallop populations in the Irish Sea beyond territorial waters, and few appropriate management measures to control fishing. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. There are no controls on where dredging can happen in this area, and therefore vulnerable habitats and species may be at risk.Rating last updated November 2023

King scallops from the North Sea appear to be declining in abundance but are not subject to overfishing. Therefore, there is concern for biomass but not for fishing pressure. Appropriate management measures are in place to control scallop dredging in this area. These appear to be responsive to stock status, with the use of emergency byelaws playing a key role in protecting scallop stocks. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. However, an extensive area of this IFCA district is closed to scallop dredging, which helps to protect vulnerable ecosystems.Last updated July 2025.

Information about Shetland king scallops indicates that the stock is growing, and there is no concern for the biomass or fishing pressure. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control scallop fishing in Shetland waters beyond 6nm. Improvements are needed to better understand the stock and the fishery, and protect both scallop stocks and habitats. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species.Rating last updated December 2023

Information about Shetland king scallops indicates that the stock is growing, and there is no concern for the biomass or fishing pressure.  All of the inshore (0-6nm) scallop dredge fishery is independently certified to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards. Some appropriate management measures are in place, but improvements are needed to better control the impacts of dredging. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. In Shetland, some areas are closed to scallop dredging, and the certified fishery is monitored to ensure impacts are reduced.Rating last updated November 2023

King scallops from the Lyme Bay area of the western English Channel are increasing in abundance but are subject to overfishing. Therefore, there is no concern for biomass but there is concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place for king scallops in Lyme Bay, including minimum sizes, vessel and gear restrictions, and seasonal closures. However, the stock remains at risk due to the absence of catch and effort limits within 6 nautical miles and ongoing fishing pressure above sustainable levels. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. However, in this area, vulnerable habitats and species are protected through closed areas, closed seasons, and curfews.Last updated: June 2025

Information about Scottish West Coast king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, although it appears to be growing. Fishing effort has recently decreased, so there is not currently concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place to control the scallop dive fishery in the west coast of Scotland. Improvements are needed to improve understanding of the stock and the fishery. Hand-diving for scallops is a very low impact fishing method, with no unwanted bycatch of other animals and very little impact on habitats.Rating last updated December 2023

Information about Scottish North East king scallops is limited. There is not enough information to determine whether the population is at a healthy size, although it appears to be growing. Fishing effort has recently decreased, so there is not currently concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place to control the scallop dive fishery in Orkney. Improvements are needed to improve understanding of the stock and the fishery. Hand-diving for scallops is a very low impact fishing method, with no unwanted bycatch of other animals and very little impact on habitats.Rating last updated June 2022.

King scallops from the Lyme Bay area of the western English Channel are increasing in abundance but are subject to overfishing. Therefore, there is no concern for biomass but there is concern for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place for dive-caught king scallops in Lyme Bay, including minimum sizes, catch limits, and time restrictions. However, due to limited information on the dive fishery and the fact that scallop stocks in the area are overfished, it remains unclear whether these measures are sufficient to ensure the fishery’s long-term sustainability. Hand-diving for scallops is a very low impact fishing method, with no unwanted bycatch of any other animals and very little impact on habitats.Last updated: June 2025

King scallops from offshore in the western English Channel appear to be declining in abundance but are not subject to overfishing. Therefore, there is concern for biomass but not for fishing pressure. Few appropriate management measures are in place to control king scallop fishing in the western English Channel. There are currently no catch limits, and fishing effort is not responsive to stock size. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. There is yet to be restrictions on where dredging can occur, so vulnerable habitats and species may be at risk.Last updated: July 2025

King scallops from the northeast English Channel are increasing in abundance and fishing levels are close to sustainable levels. Therefore, there is no concern for biomass or fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place for king scallops in the inshore area of the northeastern English Channel, including minimum sizes, vessel and gear restrictions, and seasonal closures. However, there is a lack of significant catch or effort limits within 6 nautical miles, which leaves the stock vulnerable to overfishing. Scallop dredging can be very damaging to seabed habitats and species. However, several MPAs in the region are closed to bottom-towed gear, helping to protect vulnerable ecosystems.Last updated June 2025.

Scallops farmed in the UK (Scotland) in suspended rope culture and bottom culture have little environmental impact and do not require any commercial feed sources as they get all of their nutrient requirements from the surrounding water. Scallop aquaculture is entirely sea-based and habitat concerns are minimal. Scallop culture generally does not involve the use of chemicals and there is no concern about the impact of effluents. Spat used for farming are either collected from the wild or settle naturally and research into development of a hatchery is ongoing. Disease risk and parasite interactions are thought to be minimal and do not threaten regional level populations. Currently, no independently certified scallops are available.Rating last updated March 2024.

Scallops farmed in the UK in suspended rope culture and bottom culture have little environmental impact and do not require any commercial feed sources as they get all of their nutrient requirements from the surrounding water. Scallop aquaculture is entirely sea-based and habitat concerns are minimal. Scallop culture generally does not involve the use of chemicals and there is no concern about the impact of effluents. Spat used for farming are either collected from the wild or settle naturally and research into development of a hatchery is ongoing. Disease risk and parasite interactions are thought to be minimal and do not threaten regional level populations. Currently, no independently certified scallops are available.Rating last updated March 2024.