December 2024

Automation in the Scallop Industry

Chris Noren University of Maine

The scientific method isolates key variables in an attempt to simplify complex systems and create an 'optimal' solution. However, often in applied fields such as aquaculture science, this necessitates a rigid set of assumptions in order to make sense of the complex real-world problems that can be difficult to apply in practice. This presentation explores the economic implications of automation for two different on-water scallop culture methods: traditional lantern nets and novel ear-hanging for Atlantic sea scallops in the Gulf of Maine. In our analysis, we show that ear-hanging, in addition to providing 4-11% improved adductor muscle growth compared to lantern net cultured scallops, was also more profitable. But is ear-hanging optimal for every grower? The second part of our presentation introduces a free and streamlined application toolkit intended to assist grower decision-making on a case-by-case basis. In this section we will use the application to explore different theoretical scenarios that potential scallop farmers might encounter and address how our application can help them in their business planning.