Scientific name
Pecten maximus
Also known as
King scallop, great scallop, coquille Saint Jacques, noix de Saint Jacques
Main origins
France, United Kingdom, Ireland
Main season
October to May (France)
Overview
About Scallops
The king scallop is a wild bivalve living on sandy and gravelly seabeds in the northeast Atlantic, caught by dredge or by divers. The white adductor muscle is sweet and tender, and the orange roe (coral) is often left attached for European markets.
France and the UK land most of the European catch, with major French fisheries in the Bay of Seine and the Bay of Saint Brieuc. Scallop meat is a premium item for fine dining, hotels and retail.
Key points
- Wild caught, dredge or diver
- Roe on or roe off
- Meat graded by count
- French season October to May
Origins
Where it comes from
France
Channel fisheries in Normandy and Brittany open from 1 October to 15 May under quotas and fishing time limits.
United Kingdom
Scotland, the English Channel and Wales supply live scallops and hand cut meat, chilled or IQF.
Ireland
Smaller offshore and inshore fisheries supplying live and processed scallops.
Available origins vary through the year. Contact us for current availability.
Specifications
Available formats
| Product forms | Live whole in shell, half shell, meat roe on or roe off, chilled or frozen |
| Sizes | Meat count per lb: 10/20, 15/25, 20/30, 30/40; in shell above legal minimum landing size |
| Freezing | IQF, glazed |
| Packing | Live in boxes or net bags; meat in 1 kg bags or trays, packed in master cartons |
| Season | France 1 October to 15 May; UK most of the year subject to local closures; frozen year round |
| Certifications | Label Rouge for Normandy scallop meat (fresh and frozen); MSC for selected fisheries; BRC or IFS processors |
Buyers should specify roe on or roe off and confirm that no water or water retaining agents have been added. Specifications are typical for the trade and vary by origin and supplier. We source to your exact requirements.
Interested in Scallops?
Send us your specification, volumes and destination and we will come back to you with suitable offers.