Production from Japanese scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) aquaculture is increasing, and supports coastal
communities. To ensure both success and long-term sustainability of providing scallop productions, finding
suitable sites is an important step in any aquaculture operation. This study was conducted to identify the
most suitable sites for hanging culture of Japanese scallop using geographic information system (GIS)-based
multi-criteria evaluation models. Remote sensing data (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS),
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS))
were used to extract most of the parameters. Seven thematic layers were grouped into two basic requisite for
scallop aquaculture, namely biophysical (sea temperature, chlorophyll, suspended sediment and bathymetry)
and social–infrastructural (distance to town, pier and land-based facilities). A constraint layer was used to
exclude the areas from suitability maps that cannot be allowed to develop scallop aquaculture, including
harbor, area near town/industrial and river mouth. A series of GIS models was developed to identify the most
suitable areas for scallop culture using multi-criteria evaluation known as weighted linear combination.
Suitability scores were ranked on a scale from 1 (least suitable) to 8 (most suitable), and about 56% of the
total potential area with bottom depths less than 60 m had the higher scores (scores 7 and 8). These areas
were shown to have the optimum condition for scallop culture in this region. The final suitability model
outputs were compared with field verification data and found to be consistent.