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A heart-shaped scallop was found off Georges Bank
Who needs a rare blue diamond? This might be the real heart of the ocean.
This summer, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stumbled upon a rather romantic scallop off the coast of New England.
The NOAA Fisheries New England Mid-Atlantic branch posted a photo of the unique marine mollusk on Facebook, along with a caption explaining its origin.
“A heart-shaped scallop? Scientists and crew aboard the F/V Selje dredged up this heart-shaped scallop a few weeks ago on Georges Bank during the Atlantic Sea Scallop Dredge Survey. Years ago, this scallop got dinged and that caused the unique shape we see today,” the NOAA wrote in a July 31 Facebook post.
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According to NOAA, the research team collected the one-of-a-kind scallop at the northern edge of Georges Bank, an underwater plateau located about 60 miles east of Cape Cod that extends toward Nova Scotia, Canada.
The plateau is shallow compared to the surrounding ocean, making it rich in nutrients and a perfect place for scallops and other marine life to thrive.
“This area is known for strong currents and a rocky-cobbly bottom. Strong currents can toss scallops around, causing them to hit rocks or other scallops. That can lead to shell damage. As the injury heals, the scallop continues to grow and shell malformations like this begin to appear,” NOAA explained.
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NOAA scientists study Atlantic sea scallops through two surveys that look at their habitat, population, and how they grow. The information helps set safe catch limits for commercial fishing.
According to the NOAA, the Dredge Survey, which started in 1979, uses fishing gear to collect scallops from the ocean floor. In 2012, researchers also began using the HabCam Survey, an underwater camera system that captures detailed pictures of scallops and their habitat.
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