National Scallops Day is observed on July 2 each year, declared by President Donald Trump in connection with NOAA's 2026 decision to expand commercial scallop fishing on Georges Bank, including opening the Northern Edge to scallops. The move is described as increasing access to wild scallops for American families and supporting jobs in East Coast ports such as Norfolk, Virginia; Cape May, New Jersey; and New Bedford, Massachusetts. The history of closures dates back to emergency protections in the 1990s, with ongoing restrictions later maintained and considered for reopening.
Previous scallops-themed days celebrated specific preparations (fried, bacon-wrapped, baked), whereas this newest day--as much a political holiday as a food holiday--celebrates the overall category.
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