Locally Extinct for a Century, Bay Scallops Thriving Again on Virginia Shore of Chesapeake Bay

Bay scallops are making an incredible resurgence in coastal bays along Virginia’s Eastern Shore, according to a new survey.

The exponential population growth is the result of decades of dedicated seagrass restoration efforts that allowed scientists to reintroduce the species to its former home.

Locally extinct since the 1930s due to habitat loss, bay scallops are thriving again, with help from the College of William & Mary’s and VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory (ESL) in Wachapreague, Virginia.

The comeback could possibly set the stage for a future recreational fishery.

During the Bay Scallop Survey for 2025, the group routinely documented finding multiple scallops within a single square meter—something unimaginable just a few years ago.

Additionally, the researchers estimate the popula