Abstract: An apparatus is used to connect shellfish to a culture rope, which includes a shellfish transfer unit (5, 23, 29, 31) that transfers shellfish in a predetermined direction, shellfish (7) being transferred, two by two, in parallel upstanding orientation with their ear end portions (7a) down. The shellfish transferred by the shellfish transfer unit is stopped at a predetermined stop position defined by stoppers (39, 41). A culture rope (51) is supplied to a space between the ear end portions of two shellfish in the stop position. An ear spacer (50) and a pair of shellfish supporting pads (43, 45) cooperate each other to secure the scallops in the stop position where they are subjected to the piercing operation by a piercing unit and the pin-inserting operation by a pin inserting unit so that the ear end portions of two scallops held in parallel relation in the stop position are connected to the culture rope positioned and extending therebetween.

Abstract: A shellfish transfer device comprising shellfish holders that respectively hold at least one shellfish; a shellfish push unit that forces shellfish of a predetermined exposure toward at least one of the shellfish holders; and a shellfish press-down unit that operates in synchronism with the shellfish push unit to exert a downward pressure to the shellfish held by the shellfish holder. Said predetermined exposure of the shellfish is substantially maintained relative to the shellfish holder during operation by the shellfish press-down unit. Preferably, the shellfish push member comprises one or more of movable shellfish pocket push members; at least one shellfish pocket supporting thereon the shellfish and forced by the shellfish pocket push members toward the shellfish holder; and one or more of movable shellfish push members that convey the shellfish on the shellfish pocket onto the shellfish holder.