What kind of fish are sea scallops? None: sea scallops are not fish. They are shellfish—marine bivalve mollusks related to clams, oysters, and mussels. The Atlantic sea scallop is Placopecten magellanicus, and the round meat commonly sold in the United States is its adductor muscle.
The name “seafood” causes much of the confusion because seafood includes both finfish and shellfish. A scallop is an invertebrate with two shells, not a finned, internally skeletonized fish.
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Key takeaways
- Sea scallops are not finfish; they are bivalve mollusks, which means they are shellfish with two shells.
- The Atlantic sea scallop is Placopecten magellanicus, a member of the family Pectinidae.
- The round, pale portion commonly sold in the United States is the adductor muscle that holds the two shells together.
- Atlantic sea scallops range from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and commonly live in seafloor beds.
- Sea scallops filter phytoplankton and other small organisms from the water rather than hunting prey like many fish.
- NOAA’s 2020 assessment found the Atlantic sea scallop stock was not overfished and was not subject to overfishing.
Are sea scallops fish?
No. Sea scallops are shellfish—specifically marine bivalve mollusks—not fish. The Atlantic sea scallop, the species most commonly meant in U.S. seafood discussions, is Placopecten magellanicus. NOAA Fisheries describes scallops as “bivalves (having two shells), like clams and oysters,” a classification that places them with mollusks rather than finfish.
“Seafood” is a broad culinary term for edible aquatic animals, so scallops may appear alongside fish in a seafood department. Biological classification is more precise: a fish is a vertebrate with features such as fins and an internal skeleton, while a scallop is an invertebrate mollusk enclosed by two shells.
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What kind of animal is a sea scallop?
A sea scallop is a marine bivalve mollusk in the animal kingdom. Its full classification is:
| Taxonomic rank | Atlantic sea scallop classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Mollusca |
| Class | Bivalvia |
| Order | Pectinida |
| Family | Pectinidae |
| Genus | Placopecten |
| Species | Placopecten magellanicus |
The name “bivalve” means that the animal has two shells. In a sea scallop, a strong adductor muscle joins and closes those shells. NOAA Fisheries identifies that adductor muscle as “the part of the scallop Americans typically eat.” You can review NOAA’s official Atlantic sea scallop species profile for the species’ identification, anatomy, habitat, and fishery information.
How are sea scallops different from fish, clams, oysters, and mussels?
Sea scallops differ from fish because they have shells and a soft invertebrate body, and they differ from familiar bivalves such as clams, oysters, and mussels because scallops can actively propel themselves through the water.
| Animal or group | Biological category | Body structure | Typical movement | Common edible product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic sea scallop | Bivalve mollusk | Two shells and an adductor muscle | Can swim by rapidly clapping its shells | Adductor muscle |
| Clam | Bivalve mollusk | Two shells and a soft body | Usually rests on or burrows into the seafloor | Whole soft body |
| Oyster | Bivalve mollusk | Two shells and a soft body | Generally attached or stationary as an adult | Whole soft body |
| Mussel | Bivalve mollusk | Two shells and a soft body | Generally attached by threads | Whole soft body |
| Common finfish | Vertebrate fish | Fins, scales in many species, and an internal skeleton | Swims with fins and body muscles | Fillet or whole fish |
Scallops swim by opening and closing their shells with the adductor muscle. The resulting water movement can push the scallop away from predators such as sea stars. Mussels, clams, and oysters are also bivalves, but adult individuals generally do not move through the water in the same distinctive way.
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The part commonly eaten is the adductor muscle, the round muscle that holds the two shells together. When commercial scallops are shucked, the shells and much of the rest of the animal are removed, leaving the pale muscle typically sold as a scallop “meat.” NOAA Fisheries explains the anatomy and commercial product in its Atlantic sea scallop commercial profile.
Atlantic sea scallops are primarily landed as shucked meats, although some are landed whole and in the shell. U.S. commercial meats are often graded by the number of pieces per pound, including 20–30, 10–20, and U10. A lower count per pound means larger individual scallop meats; “U10,” for example, indicates fewer than 10 meats per pound. Count grades describe size, not a different biological species.
Where do Atlantic sea scallops live?
Atlantic sea scallops live in the Northwest Atlantic, from Newfoundland south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Adults commonly gather in beds on sandy or gravelly parts of the ocean floor. On Georges Bank and in the Mid-Atlantic, typical depths are about 100 to 300 feet, while scallops may occur in shallower water in Maine and Canada.
Those habitat details apply to the Atlantic sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, rather than automatically describing every scallop species sold around the world. NOAA’s technical sea scallop life-history and habitat document provides additional information about the species’ range and essential habitat.
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How do sea scallops feed?
Sea scallops are filter feeders. They draw water into the body and remove phytoplankton and other tiny organisms from the water column. Filtering can also help improve water quality by removing suspended materials, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Sea scallops can live for up to 20 years. They grow quickly during their first few years, usually do not grow larger than about 6 inches, and may reproduce by age 2. Scallops generally do not produce many eggs or sperm until approximately age 4. Their larvae remain suspended in the water column for four to six weeks before settling on the ocean floor. These life-history details are summarized in NOAA’s Atlantic sea scallop profile.
How large is the Atlantic sea scallop fishery?
The U.S. Atlantic sea scallop fishery operates mainly from the Mid-Atlantic to the U.S.-Canada border. According to NOAA Fisheries, 2024 commercial landings totaled 21.2 million pounds of scallop meats and were valued at $332 million. These figures measure U.S. commercial landings and value, not the number of individual scallops or the worldwide harvest of every scallop species.
NOAA describes U.S. wild-caught Atlantic sea scallops as sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. NOAA’s 2020 stock assessment reported that the Atlantic sea scallop stock was not overfished and was not subject to overfishing. That status applies to the assessed Atlantic stock and should not be generalized to every scallop species, country, fishery, or fishing method.
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U.S. federal rules and management measures for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery can change. NOAA’s Atlantic sea scallop species page provides current fishery information, including management measures for fishing year 2026. Check NOAA and applicable local authorities for the rules that apply to a particular fishery.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why are sea scallops called seafood if they are not fish?
“Seafood” describes food obtained from the water, not a single biological group. The seafood category includes finfish as well as shellfish such as scallops, clams, oysters, and mussels. Therefore, a sea scallop can correctly be called seafood and shellfish while being incorrectly called a fish.
The most precise short answer is: sea scallops are shellfish—bivalve mollusks related to clams, oysters, and mussels—not fish. When the name refers to the Atlantic species, the scientific name is Placopecten magellanicus, and the edible product is usually its adductor muscle.
FAQ
Are sea scallops fish?
No. Sea scallops are shellfish, specifically marine bivalve mollusks. Fish are vertebrates, while scallops are invertebrates with two shells.
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What part of a scallop do people eat?
The round scallop meat commonly sold in the United States is the adductor muscle, which holds the scallop’s two shells together.
Are scallops related to clams and oysters?
Yes. Sea scallops are related to clams, oysters, and mussels because all are bivalve mollusks. Scallops are unusual among these familiar bivalves because they can swim by clapping their shells.
Where do Atlantic sea scallops live?
Atlantic sea scallops live in the Northwest Atlantic from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Adults commonly gather in beds on sandy or gravelly seafloor.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Sea scallops are not fish. They are bivalve mollusks, or shellfish, and the scallop meat commonly sold in the United States is the adductor muscle that closes the animal’s two shells.
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