Argopecten purpuratus is an edible marine species of saltwater shellfish, a bivalve mollusk in the family Pectinidae.

This scallop is natural to certain bays in the Southern west coast of south America, from Peru to Chile.

In most growth areas, the harvesting of natural grown scallops has been replaced by aquaculture operations.

The aquaculture operations consist in re-stocking the natural areas, taking care of the scallops along the grow out period and harvesting at the end of the cycle.

Thanks to this practices, the natural banks have recovered and are able to maintain a sustainable production level.