The Yesso scallop (Patinopecten or Mizuhopecten yessoensis), has a wide distribution on the cold coasts of northern Japanese islands, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, Russian Primorye, Sakhalin, and Kuril Islands.

The coastline of the Sea of Okhotsk, Hokkaido, is ideal habitat for the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis, and has supported important fisheries for this species since the early 1900s. Maximum annual production was 80,000 tonnes in 1934, although catch records dating back to 1920 show that there were 6–13-year cycles of good and poor harvests up to 1945. Over-fishing did occur prior to 1945, although the resource normally recovered due to recruitment of a strong year class. However, rampant harvesting in the postwar decade (1945–1955) reduced annual production to ∼6000 tonnes, where it remained for the next 25 years. Efforts to restrict harvest areas and seasons, prohibit certain types of gear, and introduce size limits during this period did not succeed in restoring the fishery (Uki 2006).

A distinct genetic stock around Hokkaido is considered to exist (Sato et al. 2005).