ABSTRACT
Pecten novaezelandiae is endemic to New Zealand and is the largest pectinid in the country. Apart from some recent experimental fishing of the deep water fan scallop, it is also the only commercially exploited scallop species in New Zealand. Juveniles usually become mature at the end of their first year but probably contribute little to the spawning pool until the end of their second year. Scallops are generally landed live in either 25-kg sacks or 35-kg cases and taken to onshore processing facilities, where they are hand shucked. After shucking, the meats are usually frozen in layer packs or free-flow form, although some are further processed to a crumbed or battered form. In 1983, the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in conjunction with the Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Foundation of Japan expanded this work and embarked on a 3-year pilot-scale trial in Golden Bay in the Nelson province.
