Sustainable Seafood Spotlight: Scallops

For more than 20 years, Jax Fish House has worked with Fleet Fisheries out of the historic seaport of New Bedford, Massachusetts to bring the freshest, most sustainably harvested wild scallops to Colorado and Missouri. 

Culinary connoisseurs know that scallops are one of the most delicious shellfish specimens out there. Lucky for us, scallops are also considered a Best Choice by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. The U.S. sea scallop fishery is the largest wild scallop fishery in the world, and has a significant impact on the U.S. economy. 

While the scallop industry was severely depleted due to overfishing in the ‘80s and ‘90s, it has been considered recovered since 2001. “Scallops are one of the success stories of sustainability,” says Chuck Violissi, VP of procurement for Fleet Fisheries. 

Fleet Fisheries adheres to strict regulations put forth by the Marine Stewardship Council to harvest its scallops from the deep sea, offering complete traceability from vessel to distributor. Fleet Fisheries also uses monitoring technology to ensure that the fleet is harvesting with NOAA territories, which keeps the scallop population at sustainable levels. 

Additionally, there are limits on the size of the scallops that can be harvested to ensure that the population is protected for future generations to enjoy. Juvenile scallops fall through the dredge back to the ocean, where they will continue to grow and keep the population at healthy levels. After shucking, the scallop shells are returned to the ocean where they reseed. 

Did you know: The part of the scallop we consume is the tender adductor muscle. 

Jax Fish House was the first restaurant in Colorado and Missouri to be certified by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Learn more about our commitment to sustainable sourcing.