Non-license holders cannot offer scallops for sale. Narrow River, Pawcatuck River, Little Narragansett Bay, Point Judith, and Potter, Green Hill, Charlestown, Quonochontaug, and Winnapaug Ponds. Since bay scallops commonly live to be only 20 to 26 months old, dredging will be allowed in those areas beginning November 15 to access remaining adult scallops residing in deeper waters that will ultimately die if left unharvested. Harvest of bay scallops with diving apparatus is also prohibited in Charlestown, Green Hill, and Quonochontaug Ponds until November 15. Harvesters are reminded that possession of seed scallops is prohibited.
Legal scallops possess a defined raised annual growth ring.
Last year, DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife received limited funding for stocking bay scallops in the south shore coastal ponds. About 80,000 hatchery-reared seed were planted in selected areas of Point Judith, Potter, Green Hill, Charlestown, Quonochontaug, and Winnapaug Ponds. Scallops were monitored for growth and survival throughout the year and exhibited minimal mortality and excellent growth rates, according to April Valliere, principal marine biologist for the Division. According to Valliere, the Division is in the fourth year of a bay scallop restoration project in Naragansett Bay. Hatchery reared scallops and scallops from spat collectors have been transplanted to selected areas of the bay and monitored for growth and survival.