Mysterious Die-Off Of Scallops Seen In Peconics Is Worst Since Infamous ‘Brown Tides’

Scientists say that as much as 95 percent of adult bay scallops in the Peconics died mysteriously mid-summer. Thousands of empty shells, like this one photographed by Cornell Cooperative Extension researchers, is all that remains of a once giant set of scallops.

Greg Verity and Sara Miranda shucking scallops Mr. Verity caught in Orient on Monday. Michael Wright

Dr. Stephen Tettelbach has been conducting bi-annual surveys of wild bay scallop populations for two decades. This year's surveys revealed a massive die-off of the scallops in the Peconics. Charity Robey

All that is left of the two bags of scallops that came into Cor-J Seafood in Hampton Bays on Monday. DANA SHAW

Danny Coronesi at Cor-J Seafood in Hampton Bays. DANA SHAW