Chinese scallop giant Zoneco Group, formerly known as Dalian Zhangzidao, has pulled its Zhangzidao Scallop fishery from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainable seafood certification program.

Official documentation gave no reason for the decision except to say "the client has requested the withdrawal of the certificate."

But last year more than 80 percent of the scallops at its farm in the sea between China and Korea died because of “unidentified” causes.