Tending the long lines is done either from a boat which hauls the line to the surface, or by divers who clip on, or remove nets from the long-line underwater. The fourth option is for the scallops to be scattered on the bottom for harvest by conventional fishing techniques, or by divers. In this case growth to market size may take longer, mortality is higher, particularly among small scallops. Growth varies from site to site, and there is also much variation in growth rate between individual scallops. Nevertheless, scallops in suspended culture have been grown to marketable size in 18 months to 2 years.
Growth is more rapid than when scallops are on bottom, and loss to predators is much reduced.
In appearance the shells are rounded, one valve being slightly more convex than the other. They have very find radiating lines, and conspicuous ears . The upper, more convex, shell is pinkish in colour while the lower shell is usually pale and lacking pigment. If one shell is removed the arrangement of the soft parts can be clearly seen. Prominent in the centre of the shell is the adductor muscle or meat .