All speciesMeaty Bass Strait beauties

Australian Scallops

Australia's commercial scallop catch comes mainly from Bass Strait (TAS/VIC) and Hervey Bay (QLD). Roe-on, premium, and very different from imported product.

Pecten fumatus / Amusium balloti
Flavour: Sweet, milky, briny — the roe is part of the experience

Four reasons to choose local

Health

  • Roe-on Australian scallops retain natural sweetness and nutrients
  • No water-injection or phosphate additives
  • Pristine cold Bass Strait waters

Economy

  • Bass Strait dredge fleet (TAS/VIC) supports many regional jobs
  • Hervey Bay saucer-scallop fishery key to QLD coast
  • Premium market for restaurant suppliers

Environment

  • Stock-status assessed every two years
  • Closed seasons protect spawning
  • Hervey Bay quota-managed dredge fishery

Taste

  • Roe-on is the proper way to eat them
  • Sweet, milky flesh — best raw or barely seared
  • Nothing imported comes close

Sourcing

Australian Scallops is exclusively wild-caught.

Where it comes from

Australian Scallops is most strongly associated with these 5 Australian regions:

Nutrition (per 100g)

How Australian Scallops compares to imported equivalents on the headline nutrients consumers care about.

Protein17.8g15.2g
Selenium38µg26µg
Vitamin B121.6µg1µg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids380mg240mg
Iron2.4mg1.6mg

Seasonality

When to enjoy Australian Scallops at its peak.

Janavailable
Febavailable
Margood
Aprpeak
Maypeak
Junpeak
Julpeak
Augpeak
Seppeak
Octpeak
Novgood
Decavailable
Peak Good Available Off-season

How to cook it

Four go-to preparations for Australian Scallops that respect the fish — short cooks, clean flavours, no over-doing it.

Sashimi

Slice raw, dress with citrus + sea salt + olive oil.

Pan-sear

Bone-dry, hot pan, 60 sec each side, butter + lemon to finish.

Carpaccio

Paper-thin, lemon + olive oil + capers + chives.

Asian-style

Steamed in shell, hot peanut oil + soy + spring onion.

Australian vs imported — at a glance

Roe-on Australian scallops from Bass Strait and Hervey Bay vs imported scallops from Asia, USA, and Peru — often water-injected.

Australia
Australian Roe-on Scallops
Bass Strait / Hervey Bay
🇦🇺 Local
Water injection (STPP)None
Roe retainedYes
Frozen-thawed cyclesMinimal
Stock-status reportsYes
Price per kg~$70
Overall rating: Australian Scallops score 9.3/10 — roe-on, no additives, premium.
vs
Various
Imported Scallops
Japan / China / USA / Peru
Water injection (STPP)Common
Roe retainedUsually removed
Frozen-thawed cyclesCommon
Stock-status reportsVariable
Price per kg~$45
Overall rating: Imported Scallops score 5.6/10 — often water-injected and roe-off.

Read the full comparison →

The risks of the imported version

Typically imported from: Japan, China, USA, Peru — often roe-off and water-injected

  • Imported scallops often water-injected (sodium tripolyphosphate) — fake weight
  • Roe typically removed for export — texture compromised
  • Frozen-thawed product loses sweetness rapidly

See the full case against imported seafood →

How to buy it

🔍
Look for:

Look for "Australian Roe-on Scallops" or "Bass Strait Scallops" — never water-injected.

From 1 July 2026, every restaurant menu in Australia must show A (Australian), I (Imported), or M (Mixed) for each seafood dish. Read the law →

Sources for this page

  1. Status of Australian Fish Stocks Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2024)
  2. FSANZ chemical residues in food Food Standards Australia New Zealand